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Tandon defends KJ Rao against UPA's allegation

     Patna: Chief Election Commissioner BB Tandon on Friday dismissed the allegation that Special Adviser to Election Commission KJ Rao was acting as an extra-judicial authority in the ongoing Assembly polls in Bihar. Tondon said that Rao was an impartial and neutral officer working without bias and prejudice for holding fair and free polls. "It is an unfounded allegation that Rao is working as an extra- judicial authority. He has been assigned with the task of supervising fair and free conduct of the polls and he is discharging his responsibilities without any bias and prejudice," Tandon said this after arriving here along with Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy to review preparations for the third phase of Bihar polls.

     "It will be unfair to level such an allegation against an officer who is discharging his duties with full honesty," Tandon said adding that Rao was working under the direct supervision of the commission and he was doing exceedingly well. Several United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders, including Digvijay Singh, had alleged Rao of "behaving as an extra-judicial authority". From Patna, Tandon and Gopalaswamy will leave for Madhepura and Motihari to review the arrangements for the third phase of polling in five and six districts respectively which will vote on November 13 along with other constituencies. The first phase of voting had taken place on October 18 in which voters from 52 constituencies had exercised their franchise, while the second phase was held on October 26 in 62 constituencies. The fourth phases will be held on November 19. Counting of votes in all the constituencies will be taken up on November 22, and date before which election process shall be completed will be November 23.