Sunday, August 14 2005 16:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Election Commission has banned the use of lantern at polling booths and offices engaged in poll-related work in Bihar for the purpose of holding an impartial assembly election, as it is a symbol of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

Bihar chief electoral officer N K Sinha has asked all the 38 district magistrates of the state to make a fool-proof arrangement to meet power cuts on the polling days but strictly banned use of lantern as a substitute, state election office sources said today (Aug 14, 2005).

The EC decision to ban the use of lantern has been taken in conformity with the election rules which prohibits the use of symbol or any other articles related to a political party, the sources said.

It followed complaints from rivals against the use of lanterns at polling booths, which they alleged influenced the voters, the sources said.

NDA (National Democratic Alliance) has welcomed the EC decision, while the RJD has termed it as 'funny'.

State NDA convener and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Dal) leader Nand Kishore Yadav welcomed the EC decision and said it should have been taken earlier.

JD (U) (Janata Dal United) leader and former leader of opposition Upendra Kushwaha congratulated the EC for the decision.

RJD national spokesman and former Bihar minister Shivanand Tiwari said ''It's really funny that EC has now realized that the lantern happens to be the symbol of RJD. It should now conduct a survey as to how many more voters RJD got in previous elections when lanterns were put inside the polling stations.''