tna October 21, 2005
| Determined to ensure that the Bihar Assembly election is not only free and fair but also seen to be free and fair, the administration and the Election Commission today acted in concert to swing into action and punish even a whisper of misconduct. |
| The Vaishali district administration registered a first information report (FIR) against former Chief Minister Rabri Devi for alleged violation of the model code of conduct, while a magistrate and a police inspector were suspended for allowing Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad to use a vehicle without a number plate. |
| Simultaneously in Delhi, the Election Commission issued a notice to Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) leader Ramvilas Paswan following complaints that his promise to make a Muslim chief minister of state was violating the model code of conduct. |
| Paswan has been accused of appealing to voters in the name of religion, poll panel sources said. This pertains not only to his promise of a Muslim chief minister but also the other sops offered to Muslims. |
| The poll panel acted on the basis of two complaints filed by former Border Security Force (BSF) Director-General Prakash Singh and another one by Gaurav Kathuria, they said. On the other celebrated violation of the code of conduct concerning Vijay Prakash, RJD candidate for the Jamui constituency and younger brother of Union Minister Jaiprakash Narain Yadav, the poll panel ordered the immediate re-arrest of Prakash. |
| Prakash was released following his arrest on October 18. He was arrested for moving around with a rifle, Rs 6.68 lakh in cash and 50 bottles of liquor. The cash and liquor was meant for distribution among the voters, while moving around with firearms, huge cash and liquor bottles during the poll. |
| The poll panel and the district administration have made it clear that they mean business, judging from the actions they have taken, unsparing even of Rabri Devi. |
| In the past, district magistrates would think twice about booking a former chief minister for charges such as using loudspeakers or using musicians for which prior permission had not been obtained. |
| Sanjiv Hans, Vaishali district magistrate-cum-district election officer, said he had ordered suspension of an executive magistrate and inspector of Mahua police station for allowing Lalu Prasad to use a vehicle without a number plate while going from the helipad to an election rally at Cherhakal in the Mahua block recently. |
| The action against Vijay Prakash is also nothing short of unusual. |
