PATNA, 18 October 2005 — The stage is set for the first phase of polling in Bihar amid a boycott called by Naxalites with 57 constituencies in 12 Naxalite-hit districts electing new representatives.
Over 1.23 crore voters will decide the fates of nearly 550 candidates left in the fray for the first phase. Prominent among them are former state chief minister and RJD candidate, Rabri Devi and former state law minister, Shakeel Ahmed Khan.
Two principal alliances — the Secular Democratic Forces comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, the CPI (M) and the NCP, and the National Democratic Alliance comprising the BJP and the JD(U) — are slugging it out for a clear verdict. The RJD is contesting 49 seats, the Congress 7 and the CPI (M) one in the first phase.
The NDA recorded victories in 16 constituencies in the last elections. The BJP and the JD(U) are engaged in a friendly fight in the Belaganj constituency of Gaya district. The LJP won nine seats last time.
Most of its winners defected to one party or the other. Its candidates will be playing a crucial role in deciding the shape of the next Assembly.
Parties such as the CPI-ML, which won four seats in this region last time, the Samajwadi Party, which won one, the independents, who bagged three seats, and the BSP will make the battles multicornered.
Unprecedented security cover has been put in place for the first phase of polling. State Chief Secretary G.S. Kang said that around 90,000 men and officers of central paramilitary forces, Bihar military police and district armed police besides home guards will provide security.
Indian Air Force choppers patrolled the skies to ward off any threat from the ultra left extremists. Since the constituencies are spread over 12 Naxal violence-hit districts — Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Nawada, Banka and Jamui — security forces have also been provided with mine detectors and anti-mine vehicles.
Four IAF choppers will conduct aerial surveillance to track the movement of Naxalites. The state’s Chief Electoral Officer N.K. Sinha said the Election Commission had made it clear that polling will not be held in booths where security was not provided.
