Monday, May 30 2005 22:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (May 30, 2005) said his party RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) was fully prepared to face Assembly polls in Bihar any time.

"Let them hold the polls whenever they (Election Commission) want. We are ready", RJD chief told sources in New Delhi when asked whether his party was ready for early polls if the EC decided so.

A two-member team of the Election Commission returned here last night from Bihar after assessing poll preparedness in the State and is likely to submit a report when the polls are likely to be held in the State.

The former Bihar Chief Minister did not favour holding of polls in July saying, "We don't know about the flood situation in the State after rainy season.

But at the same time, he said, "We have fought several elections in rainy seasons".

Asked what have been RJD's suggestion to the two-member Election Commission team, which had visited the State last week to assess the situation for holding polls, Prasad said the party has communicated that photo identity cards should be issued to those who are yet to be given and voters' list should be revised.

Beside, the Railway Minister said the Commission has been suggested to create "Revenue Villages" to facilitate weaker sections to cast their votes as they have been allegedly deprived by "affluent rich" from exercising their franchise freely.

Another suggestion the RJD made before the Commission was regarding "EVM Machine and voting process" saying it takes atleast three minute for a voter to cast their vote and 1,500 voters per booth consumes a lot of time, leading to "denial" of voting rights to a large number of people in the last hours, he said.

He accused para military forces of denying voting rights to those having alternative photo identity cards saying it was against the spirit of free and fair polls.

Prasad said these forces, which were deployed to facilitate only voting should not enter inside the polling booth.

"These corrective measures should be completed before finalising the dates for the polls", Prasad said.