Saturday, October 29 2005 12:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stung by the second-phase exit poll results that gave his opponents an edge over his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has attacked the media for lampooning him and the Election Commission for disenfranchising his supposed voters.

"Media have spoilt my image. Most people in the media have a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda. They say Lalu is a joker, a clown. This is the class of people who want to make fun of me and still they run after me day and night," the RJD Chief said in an interview to 'Outlook' news magazine.

He also charged the media with spreading lies about him and his family. "The media trashes my entire family. They say Rabri Devi is so scared of losing Raghopur that she will stand from another seat. Lies! My teenaged son accompanied his parents a few days ago and they say I am projecting him as a successor. He is in school, but the media goes on," he said.

Attacking the Election Commission of being unfair to him, he accused the EC observer for Assembly polls in Bihar, K J Rao, of trying to finish off democracy in the state.

"The man in charge of the EC has a publicity 'bimari (illness)'. K J Rao wants to see his face in the papers everyday. He is actually trying to finish off democracy in Bihar. This time they have disenfranchised 30 per cent of my voters," Prasad said.

The Bihar leader had no grudges about his much-lampooned lifestyle and public image. He said he had no intention to go for an image makeover. "My image will not change. It will remain the same. There is no need for make-up, denting or painting."