The Election Commission on Thursday ordered the Bihar government to shift Rashtriya Janata Dal Member of Parliament Mohammed Shahabuddin from Siwan jail to ensure peaceful polling in the remaining two phases of the assembly election.

The EC asked the authorities to transfer the Lok Sabha member from Siwan, his constituency, to any other jail in the areas where the election is over.

The state government can also lodge him in Beur Jail in Patna, EC sources said.

The sources said the EC was apprehensive that the presence of Shahabuddin, facing several criminal charges, in his home district might vitiate the poll process.

The EC's action comes in the wake of reports alleging that Shahabuddin was holding 'durbars' in the jail premises itself.

The EC action comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court taking a strong view of another RJD MP, Pappu Yadav, holding similar durbars inside Beur Jail and using mobile phone from there.