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| BJP slams EC over fact-finding teams to Bihar |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 09, 2009, 15:22 IST |
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BJP today criticised Election Commission for sending fact-finding teams to Bihar to investigate complaints about poll irregularities in six parliamentary seats, saying it has done this "under pressure" from RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
"The team would also visit Saran where the RJD supremo is fearing to lose the elections. This is under pressure from Lalu Prasad," senior BJP leader S S Ahluwalia told reporters here.
Questioning the rationale of sending six two-member teams to the state after 24 days of polls, Ahluwalia said, "These constituencies have also seen repoll. So what is the purpose of sending them now." and added such a move would set a "wrong precedent".
He questioned the "impartiality" of the EC and said the decision to send the teams to the state was taken after Prasad communicated to the Government that he is not attending the cabinet meeting.
"Our apprehension is that Lalu out of fear of losing wants repoll to be conducted in other places of Saran also where he is contesting against our Rajiv Pratap Rudi," he said.
Cautioning the EC from succumbing to pressure of the political parties, he said if such a pressure was put on the Commission then elections would never be completed on time.
Ahluwalai claimed the latest incident shows that the EC is "working under the pressure of Government of India" compromising its integrity.
Ahluwalia visited the EC along with senior party leaders V K Malhotra and Sahanawaj Hussain and lodged their protest for sending such teams.
The BJP leaders also took on Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla for failing to attend the meeting with them at the Election Commission.
"Our apprehensions about him have come true," said senior BJP leader V K Malhotra.The Election Commission yesterday had decided to send six teams to Bihar to look into complaints of poll irregularities received during the Lok Sabha elections.
The six two-member teams would visit Saran Lok Sabha constituency, from where RJD supremo Lalu Prasad contested, Naxal-hit Jehanabad, Ajurangabad, Jamui, Maharajganj, Munger and Gaya.
The teams would submit feedback reports on their return, EC had said in a press note. The Commission has already announced repolls in 185 polling stations in the state where elections were held in the last three phases.
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