The Hindu : Front Page : Bihar set for elections tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 17, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Bihar set for elections tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Campaign ends for first phase, unprecedented security in place

PATNA: Unprecedented security cover has been put in place as campaigning ended on Sunday for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections to be held on October 18. The Election Commission has decided to hold the elections in four constituencies of Gaya district on October 21 for security reasons. The first phase is being conducted in 57 constituencies spread over 12 districts in the State.

Six hundred companies of paramilitary forces, the Bihar Military Police, the district police and home guards have been deployed in view of the threat from Maoists who have given a call for poll boycott.

No booth unguarded

Altogether 90,000 police personnel will guard 13,493 booths. The EC has decided to deploy Central forces to guard 70 per cent of these booths. The other booths will be manned by the BMP and other armed forces. No booth has been left unguarded following the EC directive that elections will not be held in booths not protected adequately. Besides, the State administration has arranged for air surveillance.

In the February elections, naxalite violence claimed the lives of 11 police personnel. This time polling will be held against the backdrop of two naxalite attacks on a railway station and police station and an assault on the former Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, at an election meeting in Nokha in Rohtas district.

Digital cameras will be installed in the booths to record the polling process and identify those trying to cast a ballot a second time.

Two principal alliances — the Secular Democratic Forces comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, the CPI (M) and the NCP, and the National Democratic Alliance comprising the BJP and the JD(U) — are slugging it out for a clear verdict. The RJD is contesting 49 seats, the Congress 7 and the CPI (M) 1 in the first phase.

The NDA recorded victories in 16 constituencies in the last elections. The BJP and the JD(U) are engaged in a friendly fight in Belaganj constituency of Gaya district. The LJP won nine seats last time. Most of its winners defected to one party or the other. Its candidates will be playing a crucial role in deciding the shape of the next Assembly.

Parties such as the CPI-ML, which won four seats in this region last time, the Samajwadi Party, which won one, the independents, who bagged three seats, and the BSP will make the battle multi-cornered.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section