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Tight security for second phase of poll tomorrow
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 13
Amidst controversy and tight security, the second phase of poll will be held in Bihar and Jharkhand on Tuesday. It can swing the political fortunes of ruling parties in the state.

In view of the poll violence in the first phase in these two states, where 16 persons were killed, the Election Commission (EC) has deployed 525 companies of paramilitary forces, in addition to police personnel of the states.

The EC has deferred polling in the constituencies of Bahera, Ghanshyampur and Jale to February 18 in view of what it termed as “inadequate” security arrangements.

The Election Commission today decided to appoint an additional observer for Darbhanga district in Bihar in order to tighten poll arrangements there.

Some 15 million people are eligible to vote in 83 seats in Bihar and 29 seats in Jharkhand in the second phase of poll, for which campaigning ended today.

With several Muslim-dominated constituencies going to the polls in this round in Bihar, the Gujarat carnage VCD hit the headlines.

The EC had pulled up the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for screening video CDs as it violated the model code of conduct. The party, which had earlier claimed that it had informed the EC about the screening of the VCD, retracted its claim and denied any links with the VCD.

The ruling RJD, seeking mandate for a third term, faces a daunting task, with the exit poll after the first round of poll predicted erosion of its vote bank.

Meanwhile, the BJP is facing an uphill task in Jharkhand, which is having its first Assembly elections since it was carved out of Bihar in November, 2000.

The third face of polling in these two states will take place on February 23 and the counting of votes for Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana will take place on February 27.