Laloo inciting violence: Rudy

MANDATE 2004

Union Civil Aviation Minister and BJP nominee from Chhapra Rajiv Pratap Rudy yesterday charged RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav with fomenting caste tension by making inflammatory statements after the Election Commission countermanded the election, and demanded a reshuffle of polling officials in the constituency.

"The EC should take notice of Laloo's provocative statement which have generated caste tension in Chhapra and ensure that the repoll in the entire constituency on May 31 passes off peacefully," Rudy said.

The Election Commission has ordered a fresh poll in the Chhapra constituency on May 31.

Rudy said a reshuffle of all poll related officials, civil or police, was necessary to hold a free and fair election as many of them were responsible for the vitiation of the poll on April 26.

Reacting sharply to ec order, Laloo Yadav had yesterday voiced apprehension of it (the order) triggering violent protests.

Rudy exuded confidence that he would win by a handsome margin as the repoll would be conducted under foolproof security arrangements.

"The RJD chief is making all kinds of baseless allegations against the EC since he knows his defeat is certain as rjd goons would get no no chance this time to capture booths," he said.