New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) today (Apr 29, 2004) ordered an inquiry into a host of complaints of large-scale violence and malpractices during polling in the key Chapra constituency in Bihar where Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy is locked in a bitter tussle with RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav.

A two-member EC team comprising Adviser K J Rao and Principal Secretary Ananth Kumar would visit Chapra and hold a detailed inquiry on May 2 and 3, EC sources said.

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Political Parties in India

The team would hold discussions with all the candidates and those who seek to give evidence before it about the happenings in the constituency on the polling day on April 26.

Asked why the inquiry was being ordered, the sources said the Commission wanted to satisfy itself about the genuineness of the complaints. The team is expected to submit its report to the Commission soon after its return.

Rudy and his party BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) as well as the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) have demanded countermanding of polls in the constituency. Rudy met the Commission yesterday demanding re-poll in the constituency alleging large-scale rigging by supporters of the RJD chief.