Patna, Oct. 25: Campaigning for election of Bihar State Bar Council chairperson and vice-chairperson has gained momentum, with the lawyers of the civil court and the high court facing off for the scheduled November 4 contest.

Three candidates are vying for the post of the chairperson of the statutory legal organisation that regulates the legal education of lawyers and profession in the state.

While present chairperson Baleshwar Prasad Sharma (from Barh civil court) is seeking re-election, Akhauri Mangla Charan Srivastava (from Sasaram civil court) and senior Patna High Court advocate Rajendra Prasad Singh are his challengers.

“It has become an undeclared fight between the civil courts and the high court. It has been heard that both Baleshwar Prasad Sharma and Rajendra Prasad Singh have been canvassing among the members on the basis of their association with the courts,” said a high court advocate, who did not want to be named.

The contest for the vice-chairperson is also stiff with four candidates — Sadhu Sharan Yadav (Patna), incumbent vice-chairperson Kameshwar Pandey (Bhagalpur), Sudama Rai (Ara) and Patna civil court public prosecutor Jai Prakash Singh — vying for the post. Twenty-six elected members of the council would vote for the two posts.