RJD men burn EC?s effigy
Even as RJD supporters burnt the effigy of EC on Tuesday to protest the countermanding of elections in Chapra, party chief Laloo Yadav dissociated himself from the vilification campaign.
Even as state secretary of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Babban Yadav and his supporters burnt the effigy of Election Commission (EC) at the Dak Bungalow roundabout on Tuesday to protest the countermanding of elections in Chapra, party supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav dissociated himself from the vilification campaign.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times on Tuesday, Laloo said he had full faith in the EC and will abide by the decision with all humility. He expressed confidence that he would win the elections there.
Meanwhile, castigating the move of Babban Yadav and his supporters, Laloo said they will be expelled from the party. “I have asked my party to identify the culprits and prepare a list of the persons. Some 10-15 of them will be expelled from the primary membership of the party. I have also instructed the police to lodge an FIR against them,” he added.
Earlier in the day, law minister Shakeel Ahmed Khan and in-charge of party election campaign Bhola Prasad Singh held a press conference and echoed Laloo’s demand to hold the fresh elections in Chapra under army surveillance. They were also critical of the EC decision to send teams to Siwan and Bettiah, especially after re-polls had been held. The duo targeted election commissioner and former home secretary N Gopalaswamy and said the commission was working under pressure from the prime minister and the home minister.
Rudy flays Laloo: Bharatiya Janata Party nominee from Chapra Lok Sabha constituency Rajiv Pratap Rudi alleged that irked by the Election Commission’s decision to countermand the Chapra Lok Sabha poll, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav was giving provocative statements creating tension in the constituency.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Rudi said that Yadav was a responsible person and hence must not issue statements, which would vitiate the atmosphere there.
The EC’s decision vindicated the BJP’s stand that the RJD had rigged the poll in Chapra on a large scale, he said.