Yadav, along with hundreds of party supporters and several MLAs, launched his fast in front of the office of returning officer Lian Kunga. He said the fast would continue till the Election Commission ordered a repoll in the entire constituency.

Yadav has alleged large-scale rigging by the state's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in nexus with the state administration.

He charged the state administration with having "patronised booth-capturing and other electoral malpractices" in favour of RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, his main poll rival, during the voting on Sunday.

Yadav alleged that RJD goons let loose a reign of terror on October 3 to rig the polls while the district administration remained a "mute spectator" and played a "partisan role." He also alleged that despite the EC's directives, central para-military forces were not deployed at a single sensitive booth in the constituency.

State home secretary UN Panjiar had said before the polls that all booths in Madhepura would be manned by securitymen and the government would provide 21 companies of central forces and Bihar military police for the purpose.

Meanwhile, BJP-JD(U) activists staged a dharna before the statue of Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan at Gandhi Maidan in Patna to press for a repoll in Madhepura.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand People's Party on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to order repoll at all the booths of Bihar's Madhepura constituency, PTI reports from Ranchi. In a letter faxed to chief election commissioner MS Gill, JPP secretary general Praveen Prabhakar said repoll should be conducted at all polling stations of Madhepura due to "massive rigging there by the ruling RJD in collusion with the district administration".

EC says no

New Delhi, Oct 5

The Election Commission has apparently rejected the demand of JD(U) president Sharad Yadav for countermanding the election and stopping of counting at Madhepura, saying that the repoll was concluded today in 16 booths and counting will commence Wednesday at 08:00 hours.

Subhas pani, deputy election commissioner told reporters that the counting in all the 537 constituencies, including Madhepura, will be held as per schedule. Asked about the Yadav's demand, CEC MS Gill earlier said the repoll had been ordered, wherever it was necessary.

(UNI)