Rabri Devi to approach election commission

Former Bihar chief minister and Raghopur constituency MLA Rabri Devi has Thursday threatened to approach the Election Commission of India protesting against the state government's decision to shift a pontoon bridge from her constituency to Bhagalpur ahead of the parliamentary by polls there.

"We will take the issue with the election commission as it is a clear cut violation of the model code of conduct. It is a politically motivated decision before by polls," she told newspersons here.

"It is a move that will badly affect the life of people in Raghopur. They would be deprived of their only link to the world," she said.

She alleged that the Nitish Kumar government's decision was taken to influence the voters in Bhagalpur where parliamentary by polls are scheduled on Nov 6.

The pontoon bridge or the "peepa pool", as it is called locally, was constructed over the Ganga river during her government as a gift to the people of her constituency.

Rabri Devi's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has already warned to launch an agitation against the government's move to shift the bridge.

The RJD leaders alleged that the government's decision to shift the bridge was taken under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"The BJP has fielded Syed Shahnawaz Hussain in the Bhagalpur by polls. He is facing a stiff fight and so the BJP forced Kumar to play a gimmick by shifting the pontoon bridge," said RJD leader Shayam Rajak.

Though Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is reluctant to say anything over the issue, the BJP accused RJD of politicising it.

Residents have launched protest against the state government's decision and threatened not to allow the shifting of the bridge, which they describe as the lifeline for them.

"It is against the people of Raghopur. How could it be justified to shift the bridge to help people in Bhagalpur by snatching away the facility from us?" Jogendra Yadav, a youth from Raghopur asked.

(IANS)

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