PATNA, February 27: Barring a stray incident of firing to intimidate voters at Madhepura and the detention of sitting member of the dissolved Lok Sabha, Anand Mohan, repoll in 1041 booths in six Parliamentary constituencies of Bihar today passed off peacefully with an estimated 50 to 55 per cent voter turnout.According to official sources, ``anti-social'' elements fired five rounds in the air at a polling station at Baghbiyani village in Madhepura constituency to disturb polling, which resumed soon.
Rashtriya Janata Party leader Mohan, himself a candidate from Sheohar constituency, was detained by police at Murliganj in Madhepura constituency for ``refusing to obey an official command to disperse an unlawful assembly,'' Madhepura district magistrate Anzar Hassan said. Efforts were on to apprehend Samajwadi Party candidate from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, for creating disturbances during repoll, Hassan said.
Repoll was held at 327 booths in Madhepura, 186 in Banka, 179 in Munger, 197 inNalanda, 103 in Bikramganj and 49 in Saharsa.
Former chief minister and RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav is locked in a keen contest with his Janata Dal counterpart Sharad Yadav in Madhepura.In an interesting development, the Samata Party last night retired its nominee for the seat, former CBI joint director N K Singh, in favour of Sharad Yadav.
The RJD MLA from Hilsa, Baiju Yadav, was among 16 others detained by the police for disturbing the repoll.
State Janata Dal general secretary Laxmi Sahu said that in letter faxed to the Election Commission, he had demanded repoll in at least ten polling stations of Madhepura following complaints of ``rigging'' by ruling RJD supporters.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
