Patna:

RJD president Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini Acharya has been named in one of the FIRs registered in connection with “irregularities” during polling in Bihar’s Saran Lok Sabha constituency and post-poll clashes leading to the death of one person there earlier this week., officials said on Thursday.

Ms Acharya was the Mahagathbandhan candidate in Saran against BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The state government extended the suspension on internet services in the district by two more days till May 25, while the process to attach properties of the accused was initiated, officials said.

One person was killed and two others were injured in post-poll violence at Bada Telpa area in Saran on Tuesday morning.

The police registered a total of four FIRs to probe into the alleged irregularities on May 20, the day of polling, and also the violence on Tuesday. Two persons have been so far arrested in this connection.

The police registered an FIR naming Ms Acharya under various sections of the Representation of People Act, 1951, based on a complaint filed by Manoj Kumar, a representative of the BJP’s Lok Sabha nominee from Saran.

In his complaint, Mr Kumar alleged “Rohni Acharya, along with her seven supporters and 50 unidentified people indulged in illegal/irregular practices in polling booth number 318 and 319 in Chapra assembly seat on May 20,” said the statement.

The complaint has been converted into an FIR, an official said.

The police also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to nab the accused.

“The process to attach properties of absconding persons, who have failed to appear before the police, has also been initiated by the authorities concerned,” the Saran Police said in a statement on Thursday.

Saran District Magistrate Aman Samir said, “The situation in Saran is completely under control. Security personnel are keeping a strict vigil in the Bada Telpa area near Bhikhari Thakur Chowk following Tuesday’s incident.” As a precautionary measure, the government has extended the ban on internet services in the district by two more days till May 25, he said.

“The process to attach properties of absconding persons, who have failed to appear before the police, has been initiated,” Saran district SP Gaurav Mangla told PTI.

He, however, refused to reveal the exact number of persons whose properties are being attached.

Meanwhile, senior RJD leaders on Wednesday met family members of Chandan Rai, who was shot dead in the post-poll violence, and handed them over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh.

The RJD leaders also gave a cheque of Rs 2 lakh each to the family members of the two injured persons. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya’s bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by her father, is being challenged by a namesake of her father – Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar’s Saran district, the ‘karmabhoomi’ of his famous namesake, has a penchant for contesting elections.

This time, he filed his nomination papers as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for Saran Lok Sabha seat on April 26.

Earlier, Laloo Prasad Yadav had filed his nominations for 2022 Presidential polls as well. He had also filed his nomination papers for the 2017 Presidential polls, which was a contest between the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who went on to win, and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who was a native of the soil.

However, his papers got rejected in the 2017 Presidential polls since those were not endorsed by an adequate number of proposers.

“I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya,” Laloo Prasad Yadav told news agency PTI over the phone.

He also exuded of “winning the election by a comfortable margin”.

“I engage in agriculture for a living and also do social work. I keep trying my luck, from panchayat to Presidential polls. I am leaving no stone unturned to win this election… people of Saran are with me,” Mr Yadav said.

When asked about his opponents calling him ‘dharti pakad’ (one who clings on to the earth), a term associated with those who like to contest polls for the sake of thrill and publicity, and ‘vote katwa’ (one who divides votes), Mr Yadav said, “I don’t care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran.”

According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Laloo Yadav has Rs 5 lakh cash in hand whereas his wife has 2 lakh cash. He owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh and his wife owns movable assets worth Rs 5.20 lakh.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)