Thursday, December 23 2004 13:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: JD-U (Janata Dal-United) leaders led by party president George Fernandes today (Dec 23, 2004) met the Chief Election Commissioner and appealed for holding the forthcoming Assembly election in Bihar in a single phase to prevent "misuse" of Government machinery by the ruling RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

"We told the Election Commission that single-phase polls would ensure that impartial elections are held as the ruling party will not be able to misuse the Government machinery in its favour," senior JD-U leader Nitish Kumar told reporters after the meeting with CEC T S Krishnamurthy in New Delhi.

"Polls spread over three phases will help RJD in facilitating movement of their muscle power in different parts of the state," Kumar said.

He also alleged that RJD would ensure that sensitive poll booths would be manned by those Government and police officers that are partisan to their party.

Former Union Minister and JD-U leader Sharad Yadav was also part of the delegation that met Krishnamurthy.

Kumar also welcomed the Election Commission's action against RJD for breach of model election code of conduct and said that this has sent "positive signals".

On today's meeting, he said that the Election Commission gave them a patient hearing, although they also put forth their difficulty in implementing the recommendations.

He quoted the Commission as having said that the dates of the polls have been scheduled as per the availability and deployment of the para-military forces.