New Delhi: In an apparent bid to mount pressure on the Election Commission (EC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Chapra Lok Sabha seat in Bihar Rajiv Pratap Rudy today (Apr 28, 2004) approached the poll panel seeking countermanding of the election in the sensitive constituency where he is pitted against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav.

A BJP delegation including party MP Balbir Punj and State leaders met Deputy Election Commissioner Noor Mohammad and complained that there was large scale violence including killings and destruction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) by RJD workers in the constituency.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Rudy, who is also a Union Minister, said though the Commission termed 800 polling stations as "sensitive", proper security was deployed only in 200 booths and the remaining booths were left unprotected.

He said the delegation also submitted to the Commission evidence in the form of photos and video clippings on the large-scale violence in the constituency on the polling day.

Claiming that "democracy is being murdered in Chapra where a reign of terror prevails", Punj said the election had been reduced to a "farce".

Rudy said the Commission gave a patient hearing.

A high level BJP delegation led by party general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had met the Commission yesterday and demanded countermanding of elections in the constituency.