M A I N   N E W S

EC team ends probe in Chapra

Patna/New Delhi, May 3
The Election Commission’s team today wrapped up its probe into charges of large-scale rigging and violence in Bihar’s Chapra Lok Sabha constituency, where RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav crossed swords with Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, amidst indications that the poll watchdog would take a decision this week on the Opposition demand for countermanding the poll there.

Declining to disclose contents of the report it would submit to the EC, the team members Mr K J Rao, Adviser to the commission, and the Principal Secretary, Mr Ananth Kumar, told reporters here before returning to Delhi that “We have received very serious allegations of violence, rigging, collusion of the local administration with the booth-grabbers and other electoral malpractices and we have looked into it.”

The two said they would submit their report at the earliest.

Persistently questioned about whether the EC would take a tough decision like countermanding the poll in the entire constituency or it would order repoll in some polling stations, Mr Rao said the commission had always been tough in matters relating to polls.

Earlier, before leaving Chapra after a two-day probe which saw them interacting with candidates and representatives of various parties, government officials, poll personnel, as also the commoners, Mr Rao said, “We are satisfied with the way our inquiry has proceeded. I think it has gone on the right direction.”

In New Delhi, EC sources said its team was likely to submit its report in two to three days and the commission was likely to take a decision this week on the demand for countermanding the election in Chapra where BJP and other parties had alleged large-scale rigging by Mr Yadav.

Mr Rudy and his party BJP had demanded repoll in the entire constituency. PTI