Muzaffarpur, Mar 26 : Senior Janata Dal- United (JDU) leader and former Union Minister George Fernandes has announced that he will contest the 2009 elections from the Muzaffarpur parliamentary constituency as an independent.

The NDA Convenor announced his decision to contest after consulting with party supporters here.

Fernandes was denied a ticket from his party for "failing health".

The JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav said that Fernandes was not in a condition to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

The election to this seat is to be held on the April 16. (ANI)