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Parties talk money as elections approach

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

With assembly polls round the corner, ticket seekers have begun thronging party offices and residences of top political leaders in Bihar. And therein lies an opportunity for parties to replenish their coffers before taking a plunge into what is likely to be a keenly fought election.

Almost all parties are charging hefty sums for application forms that ticket seekers are supposed to fill up and return to respective party offices before a specific date.

A Rashtriya Janata Dal application costs Rs 2,500 for open category and Rs 1,250 for SCs, STs and women. The Congress, though it is not likely to perform very well in the election, is charging Rs 500 and Rs 250 respectively.

A Janata Dal (United) application for general category costs Rs 1,000, while that for reserved seats costs Rs 500.

Though there is unanimity among political workers that these applications won't even be touched and ticket distribution would happen according to the whims and fancies of top leaders, the application forms of all parties have seen brisk sales.

Sources in the RJD said till Wednesday, the last day of submitting applications, over 5,500 ticket-seekers had applied. Information available from the Congress camp said that the party has sold over 4,000 forms.

Janata Dal (United) state general secretary Shiv Prasan Yadav said he sold 360 forms on the first day. He claimed that close to 2000 forms would be sold by January 16, which is his party's last day of accepting applications.

The demand for party tickets is so huge that some people have applied with more than one party. Others are willing to contest from any constituency, provided a recognised party nominates them.

Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal seems to be the most sought after party. Huge crowds can be seen outside the official residence of his wife and chief minister Rabri Devi.

Yadav on Tuesday jokingly told newsmen in CM's assembly chamber that he had taken shelter in his wife's office because of the virtual ghereoof his house by ticket-seekers.

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