Rudy asks Election Commission to live upto expectations

Panaji, May 21 (UNI) Appreciating efforts of the Election Commission (EC) in checking money and muscle power in the June 2 elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly, the BJP today demanded that the EC make arrangement for adequate deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair polls.

''Live up to the expectations of the people in Goa by further strengthening the election machinery and vigil, as it did in the earlier elections including Bihar and UP,'' BJP national spokesperson in-charge of Goa desk Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

Talking to reporters here, he lauded the EC observers for seizing Rs 9 lakh allegedly meant for electoral purposes from Janata Dal(S) office bearers. They also did not spare chief minister's son Viswajit Rane on receipt of complaints that he allegedly distributing Dayanana Social Security Scheme cheques to the senior citizens or some machines as election sops to voters.

The BJP would step up its campaign with the opposition leader L K Advani formally kickstarting the campaign in the capital this evening, Mr Rudy said.

The party general secretary Arun Jaitely will release the official manifesto tomorrow, he said, UNI