Repoll: EC to decide on Chapra

BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu today told reporters that there was ‘‘unprecedented misuse of official machinery by the husband of the Chief Minister of Bihar, who is the actual Chief Minister’’ in Chapra. He claimed that television channels have recorded enough evidence to suggest that RJD supporters captured booths and resorted to violence. He demanded that the elections to Chapra Lok Sabha seat be countermanded and a repoll ordered.

Rudy, who has been accusing Laloo Yadav of election malpractices since the day of the polling on April 26, later visited the Nirvanchan Sadan to register a formal complaint with the EC.

During his meeting with Deputy Election Commissioner Noor Mohammad, Rudy and a delegation of party members, complained of largescale violence and destruction of EVMs by RJD workers.

Rudy alleged that while 800 polling stations in Chapra had been declared sensitive, proper security arrangements were made in 200 booths only.

Reacting to Rudy’s meeting with the EC, Laloo Yadav said: ‘‘The Centre is conspiring to get the elections to Chapra parliamentary constituency countermanded.’’ He urged the Commission not to heed the BJP’s demand to hold fresh elections in Chapra.

Among the booths where repolling has been ordered tomorrow are Bagaha, Betiah, Motihari, Gopalaganj, Maharajganj, Hajipur, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur, Darbhanga, Rosera and Samatispur. Repolling has also been ordered in 22 polling booths in Orissa.