PATNA, 2 February 2005 — Campaigning for the first phase of assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held tomorrow, concluded yesterday. In the first phase, polling will be held for 64 out of 243 assembly seats in Bihar and 24 of the 81 in Jharkhand.

In Bihar 826, candidates are in the fray in 64 assembly constituencies, while 402 candidates will be trying their luck in 24 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand, in the first phase.

All the 24 seats in Jharkhand are in the Naxal-dominated constituencies, whereas in Bihar also most of the assembly seats going to polls in the first phase are Naxal-influenced.

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in Bihar and Jharkhand for peaceful conduct of polls. Several national leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Yadav took part in campaigning for the polls in Bihar and Jharkhand. Former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and BJP President L.K. Advani also campaigned in these states.

Yesterday while addressing an election meeting in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed concern due to the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar. Judging the situation, she said there was need to improve the state’s law and order situation.

In a well-attended election rally at Bhagalpur, Sonia said that the need of the hour was safety of the people of the state. “As a woman and mother I understand the problems,” she said amid thunderous applause from the crowd, who had gathered at the rally venue despite the unfavorable weather conditions.

“We are very much concerned about the prevailing situation in Bihar which also needs more development, more employment avenues for youth and poverty alleviation programs for the weaker and backward sections of the society”, Sonia declared.

Expressing regret at the situation, Sonia promised the electorate that the problems of Bihar would be solved in partnership with the center.

“Under the Common Minimum Program, we will try and find a solution to Bihar’s problems,” she said.

Conceding that there were problems in Bihar, the Congress leader assured the rally that these issues were not merely election promises but a commitment and pledge to resolve problems. “Our struggle will not end with the elections but will begin afresh,” she said.

She appealed to the electorate to vote for Congress and its allies. She appeared defensive about her party’s support to Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. She said, ”Our party had extended support to the RJD in Bihar to prevent the ‘communal forces’ from coming to power and not because it (Congress) wanted to share the spoils of power.”

“It was my decision to extend support to those opposing ‘communal forces’ in Bihar and I do not have any hesitation in saying that I was right in my decision,” she claimed.

Sonia however, admitted that Bihar was today plagued by a plethora of problems. She said “killings of innocents and kidnapping of small kids” were against humanity. After the elections, the Congress would put pressure on the state government to address people’s problems.

Pappu Yadav Resigns From RJD Parliamentary Board

Giving a big jolt just before the party going to polls for the first phase, the controversial Rashtriya Janata Dal MP from Madhepura, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has resigned from the membership of the party’s parliamentary board.

Yadav, lodged in Beur Central Jail in Patna in connection with the Ajit Sarkar (MLA) murder case, is also likely to resign from the primary membership of the party and Lok Sabha. “I have been used by the RJD. Now I am being totally neglected by the party,” said Yadav.

Sources close to Yadav claimed that the MP was incensed over alleged “high handedness” of the RJD boss in distribution of tickets ignoring claims of “genuine” party workers.

Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav’s supporters had also pledged to “defeat” the ruling party’s candidates. They are said to be angered over the alleged denial of tickets to people of their leader (Pappu Yadav).