Without Fear or Favour ; the Peaceful Elections in Bihar and the Smooth Transition of Power Wins the Election Commission All Round Praise. The 'Scientific Riggers' in West Bengal, Where Polls Are Due Next Year, Are Already Jittery.

Summary

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The possibility of a free, fair and peaceful election in Bihar is about as remote as snow in Patna. That was, of course, until last month when the state witnessed, perhaps for the first time in living memory, an election devoid of the usual Bihar flavour: violence, death, kidnapping, rigging and armed men capturing booths. These are the normal images of democracy at work in the state. This time, they were replaced by images of Mohammed Shahabuddin, the don-turned-RJD MP on the run; the resignation of Union minister Jaiprakash Yadav who was forced out of office for intimidating policemen, orderly queues at polling stations and an environment of security.

This is not exactly good news for self-styled champions of democracy who slaughter all democratic cannons to perpetuate their hold on power. The Left parties, whose mastery over "scientific rigging" has seen the CPI(M)-led Front remaining in power in West Bengal for an unprecedented 28 years, are not exactly brimming with good humour over the Election Commission's methods in Bihar. The commission has already initiated the process of electoral roll revision in West Bengal, which is due for assembly polls early next year. The technical expertise and experience of cleansing the system in Bihar will surely come in handy in the state. For nearly three decades, using a combination of a committed babudom and a heavily unionised police force, the Left has zealously guarded its fort. These tactics will be tested as the commission delves deep into its Bihar experience.

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Without Fear or Favour ; the Peaceful Elections in Bihar and the Smooth Transition of Power Wins the Election Commission All Round Praise. The 'Scientific Riggers' in West Bengal, Where Polls Are Due Next Year, Are Already Jittery.

E-2005 in Bihar would not have been possible without meticulous planning that helped avoid the pitfalls of the past. Take a look at the statistics. In the Assembly elections in 2000, 61 people had lost their lives. Some died while trying to capture booths; others died while trying to protect the same booths; yet others were lynched for simply trying to vote. Five years down the line, things improved remarkab...

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