K. J. Rao - Rama's dedication to duty

A Ram type of hero is someone who is firmly committed to ethical principles and is a forthright and direct person. Such a person is willing to face mighty opposition to not only abide by his ethical conduct but restore order in the place of chaos and mayhem.

One such hero who has shown dedication to duty in the face of great odds is special advisor to the Election Commission in Bihar - Mr. K.J.Rao. Mr. Rao has taught Bihar's politicians a lesson about the rule of law and made them understand that they were subject to the same rules as everyone else. In the process he encountered some powerful enemies in the form of two former chief ministers but he did not waver.

An analysis of Mr.Rao's conduct shows that Mr.Rao was a man of firm principles. He stuck to his stand and played no favorites. Further, he did not remote control the process from above, but went directly to the field and ensured that the election process ran smoothly. The impartial way in which he handled his duties earned him the enmity of Ravans in the form of two former chief ministers who left no stone upturned to insult and attack him. But Rao brushed them aside to concentrate on fulfilling histask.

The sheer dedication and devotion to duty in the face of great odds shows that Rao exemplifies the character of Lord Rama in terms of commitment to duty, adherence to ethical conduct, and directness of speech and conduct.

The way in which he met his formidable challenges is described in this article by Amarnath Tiwari which was published in The Pioneer on October 22, 2005.


The Pioneer
October 22, 2005
In Bihar, EC rules prevail
Amarnath Tewary / Patna

The 2005 Bihar Assembly elections, still midway in the second round, has already spanned many a historic milestones and would be recalled for changes in the caste and community equations, unprecedented deployment of security forces, surprisingly peaceful first-round October polls and for the man who commandeered it all, K J Rao.

But, more than anything, it would go down in electoral history for the lessons that the Election Commission taught to lording politicians across party line. It's not EC against a few, but EC against all in the state.

Ever since the election dates were announced, the Election Commission stepped out determined to hold fair and impartial elections in the badland. Chief Election Commission BB Tandon made several visits to the state with his deputies, passing strict instructions to the administration.

Special advisor Rao did not budge from the state for as many as 25 days a month. He had everything closely scrutinised. Every segment, constituency, electoral roll, voters ID card, polling booth were all seen minutely to plug any loopholes. Absconding criminals were arrested, upright officers were brought in and at the slightest suspicion, officers were shown the door. More than a lakh criminals were arrested in three months and more than 48,000 absconders were put behind the bars, according to state administration statistics.

Significantly, the political masters in the habit of making a mockery of the law, were made to pay acts of omission as the EC went about enforcing electoral law.All political parties felt the EC heat. Neither former Bihar chief minister and RJD candidate from Raghopur Rabri Devi nor LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan was spared. If three RJD candidates were arrested for poll violation, an FIR was lodged against JD (U) candidate from Mahua assembly constituency.

The EC was fair in its firmness. First it was the RJD candidate from Deo assembly constituency, Suresh Paswan, in Auranagabad district who faced the EC music when he was arrested on the polling day on October 18 while moving with a rifle and armed cronies. Paswan was later sent to jail.

Similarly, Sanjay Prabhat, an RJD candidate from Govindpur constituency in Nawada district was caught while breaking an EVM machine and put behind the bars. But, the third RJD candidate from Jamui Assembly constituency, Vijay Prakash Yadav, somehow managed to breach the police dragnet and went underground. The arrest of Vijay Prakash, who is brother of UPA minister and close Lalu confidante Jay Prakash Yadav, created a flutter as the minister brother got released Vijay released using his ministerial and political clout.

On getting the news, the man of the moment, Rao, reached the place and made an intensive inquiry. Following this, axe fell on the officer incharge of the Khaira police station then on the zonal Inspector General NC Dhondhiyal. Later, Rao submitted his report to the EC amid speculation that the Jamui poll would be countermanded.

The very next day another RJD candidate and former controversial RJD minister, Surendra Yadav, was caught moving with rifles in his vehicle on the poll eve in his constituency Belaganj in Gaya. Heavyweight Surendra Yadav, too, was sent to jail after some initial hiccups.

The wily politician Lalu Prasad, who does not wish to lose a single opportunity that gives him electoral mileage, even capitalised on the arrest, saying it was "a well-planned conspiracy" against Yadavs and his party RJD. Lalu clearly sensed the eroding vote bank and was keen to undo the damage. Alliance partner Congress too sang the same tune.

Unrelenting EC later issued notices to Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, too, for arousing communal feeling by making Muslim chief minister his main election plank. Later, an FIR was lodged against JD (U) candidate from Mahua Assembly constituency, Brishen Patel, in Vaishali for violating the model code of conduct during the party's public meeting.

An FIR was filed against former chief minister Rabri Devi in Vaishali for violating the code of conduct at the time of her nomination on October 4 by using 20 vehicles against the stipulates number of four. Besides, independent candidate from Dehri, Pradip Joshi, was arrested on the polling day when his bodyguard opened fire on a crowd. Joshi was later sent to jail.