All eyes on AP election results
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

PV: Senior IAS officers posted as election observers in the northern states say they found elections in Bihar less expensive when compared with Andhra Pradesh and other Southern states.Several of them, who returned to the State for a break, narrated interesting incidents on condition of anonymity."Election rallies in Bihar are a low-key affair and a good gathering is anywhere between 2,000 and 5,000 persons," said a senior IAS offier. "There is no large-scale mobilisation of people like in our states. You hardly find people distributing money and indulging in vulgar display of wealth."He added that candidates spent money on vehicles and providing food to people, particularly party activists and supporters. One officer booked a case against a candidate for providing dal, roti and sabzi to people against the Election Commission norms.