PACS election in Bihar is turning murkier after each phase. The election that took place last week seemed a big farce with children at many places standing in a queue to cast votes as shown by some of the regional TV channels.
In the Mile panchayat of the Viduupur block of the district Hajipur, minor boys were confidently waving their voters card to state the fact that they are genuine voters. The policemen standing nearby looked helpless to do anything as these boys had the “necessary” papers with them.
An assistant returning officer Mr Rajesh Ranjan sounded ludicrous when he tried to defend the situation. Bihar has a separate Election Authority to conduct cooperative elections in the state, created by an act of legislature in the year 2009.
In Sindhia Kulmani Panchayat of Kishanganj, police resorted to lathi-charge on the farmers. The angry farmers turned violent and pelted stones on the vehicle of Thakurganj CO and other police vehicles leading to stoppage of polling.
The election could only be resumed after negotiation between local leaders and administration helped defuse the tension. The injured, meanwhile have been admitted to the Belwa primary health center.
The PACS elections, which are taking place after five years, would be completed in several phases. Sunil Singh, the ace cooperator from the state told Indian Cooperative that several of his candidates are in fray.
But what amuses no end is that even the presence of Election Authority seems not to help. Cooperative elections continue to be rigged and there have been report of large scale bungling in the preparation of electoral rolls. Is Jeetan Ram Manjhi listening?
