War preparations

Bihar elections always stretch the Election Commission and this one is no different. Besides doubling the central paramilitary deployment co...

Bihar elections always stretch the Election Commission and this one is no different. Besides doubling the central paramilitary deployment compared to the Lok Sabha elections, the commission is also trying other mechanisms for coordinated and fair elections. Officials have been asked to identify the nearest telephone for each booth in advance so that the progress of polling can be monitored over it. The moment a booth polls more than 70 percent votes, it will automatically come under stricter scrutiny. Also the register at the booth will have to be checked for repetition of similar handwriting. And each booth must have paramilitary forces present, and unless it is ensured the polling cannot begin. All such initiatives are likely to increase pressure on the officials. The EC has also barred politicians who are covered by state security from moving around with their security men. Those caught for preventing Dalits from voting will be prosecuted under the SC/ST atrocities besides other sections.

High flying absconders

The Gaya police couldn8217;t care less about a Patna high court directive to arrest absconders if they turn up to file nominations. But then the 8216;8216;absconder8217;8217; in question is no smaller than RJD8217;s Surendra Yadav, former minister who resigned after being charge-sheeted for kidnapping and torture. Surendra Yadav filed the nomination and got his campaign inaugurated by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Patna HC had directed all SPs to be ready with the list of absconders and arrest them if they file nomination. His political opponent then had to go the HC again. He says the warrants were not executed even after he brought it to the notice of the authorities. Now, the HC has summoned Gaya SP Sanjay Singh to explain the matter on 24 January.

Chopper by a dozen

Though Bihar is not a rich state, its politicians are not so poor 8211; state parties have already hired eight helicopters and one small plane to make the election campaign literally high flying. Leaders in the state had flown 800 hours during the previous LS election. Choppers cost in the range of Rs 50-60,000 in rent alone.

Congress, LJP, RJD, JDU and BJP have already hired choppers where as the BSP and SP will bring theirs soon.

Kitchen politics

After two brothers of the Bihar CM Rabri Devi, Subhash and Sadhu already elected to the Rajya Sabha and the LS respectively, other relatives of the CM household want their place. Prabhunath Yadav, the third brother of the CM has announced his decision to contest with or without RJD ticket; where as the wives of Subhash and Sadhu want MLA nominations. Nagendra Rai, a nephew of Lalu Yadav is in the fray. Wife of union minister Akhilesh Singh and husband of union minister Kanti Singh have found place in the RJD list for the first phase.