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Journalism of Courage
Even the countermanding of elections failed to have a sobering effect on contestants of the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar. Based on reports of observers on the ‘‘vitiated atmosphere’’ in certain polling booths, the Election Commission today ordered repolling in three of them.
Despite being elected from Madhepura constituency, Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Yadav is contesting against former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy in a prestige fight.
EC sources said repolling will not hold up announcement of results. While repolling continues at the three stations, simultaneous counting of votes of other stations has been ordered from 2 pm. ‘‘Results will be out by tomorrow late evening,’’ EC officials said.
EC observers noted that ‘‘vitiated atmosphere’’ affected ‘‘free and fair’’ polling in booth numbers 147, 148 Taraiya and 143 in Parsa segments. ‘‘We got complaints of irregularities from these three polling stations,’’ EC officials added.
The counting of votes of the stations which are going for repolling again will start after the process gets over at 5 pm.
