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EC steering committee will supervise deployment of paramilitary forces in Bihar

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

Chief Election Commissioner Dr Manohar Singh Gill says a steering committee will supervise the deployment of central paramilitary forces in Bihar during this month's assembly election.

Talking to some newsmen at Patna's Raj Bhavan -- only a handful of them were allowed entry -- he said this step had been taken following repeated complaints that the security forces were not deployed properly.

There are 4,000 candidates in the fray this assembly election, which is almost half the number in the 1995 poll. Dr Gill said health services employees have been exempted from election duty, but their services would be sought in an emergency.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav released his party manifesto and the third list of 101 candidates on Friday.

The RJD declared it would stiffly oppose any move to bifurcate Bihar and promised to give more power to the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council. However, it made it clear that the party would support any move to create a Jharkhand state comprising 26 districts of four states -- Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

The manifesto promises the creation of a 100,000-strong Vikas Sena. The Sena will ensure speedy development and proper implementation of state government schemes. It will also ensure the people's participation in government programmes meant for the poor.

The RJD alleged that notwithstanding the Tenth Finance Commission's recommendations, the Union government was not releasing funds for Panchayati Raj and regretted that Bihar did not get adequate royalty. The party promises a campaign for the early re-opening of public sector units in Barauni and Sindri, and the Heavy Engineering Corporation in Ranchi.

Surprisingly, the manifesto promises autonomy to state universities. Besides, it talks of implementing the University Grants Commission pay scales for college and university teachers. Teachers in the state have been on the warpath since last month, alleging that the state government had failed to implement the UGC pay scales till December 31 as stipulated by the Commission.

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