Decision likely this week on Chhapra repoll

MANDATE 2004

The full Election Commission (EC) may meet tomorrow to consider the demand for the countermanding of the elections in the Chhapra Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, where Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Laloo Prasad Yadav and Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy are locked in battle.

There were indications that the EC would take a decision this week on the Opposition demand for countermanding the poll there.

Rudy has demanded repolling in the entire constituency, alleging largescale rigging and violence, allegedly by supporters of Laloo Yadav. The Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party yesterday joined the BJP in demanding the countermanding of the elections in the constituency.

If the EC does find that rigging took place, it will further tarnish the image of the state government, run by Laloo Yadav's wife and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.

Politically, the demand for a repoll in this constituency could be a part of the groundwork to build a case for the imposition of President's Rule in Bihar once the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes to power. Laloo Yadav's ally, the Congress, has informally expressed this fear, especially now that the NDA has a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier attempts by the NDA to dismiss the Rabri government failed because it was the Opposition that had a majority in the Upper House at the time.

Janata Dal (United) leader and Defence Minister George Fernandes has demanded that the NDA dismiss the Rabri government as there has been a breakdown in the law and order machinery in the state, while Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani has said that a "people's movement" will topple the present state government.

EC sources said the two-member team, comprising adviser KJ Rao and Principal Secretary Ananth Kumar, which was on a two-day fact finding mission in the constituency, was expected to submit its report at the earliest.

Though Laloo Yadav had denied any irregularities and violence by his supporters on April 26, the EC team, while in Chhapra, said they had come across serious allegations of violence and booth capturing.