How Nitish Kumar is wooing voters in Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has promised voters that he will end the rampant corruption in the state if he returns to power.

"Give me another term to end corruption. I will make it possible," Nitish Kumar has been telling the people. He has also promised to light up every village of the state by 2015.

"Believe me, the corrupt will be put in jails and the government will use their houses to run schools," Nitish said. He also warned corrupt officials that they will not be spared.

Reportage: M I Khan in Patna

The chief minister has been telling people that he has fulfilled the promises that he had made during the campaign for the 2005 polls.

"I promise you that I will continue the development work, but I will also take on corruption in my second tenure" he said.

He added that it is his wish ensure that the corrupt are punished and their property  confiscated.

Kumar also told the voters that the law and order situation has improved and bridges and roads have been built across the state, as promised by him before the 2005 polls. "If the rule of the law can be established in Bihar, I can assure you that we can end corruption in the next five years" he said.

He said the government was committed to checking and controlling corruption and six special courts have been set up to hear such cases under the Bihar Special Courts Act. The act, passed earlier this year by the state cabinet, enhances the powers of the government to effectively deal with corruption cases involving public servants.

The act gives the state the power to confiscate the assets of corrupt government officials. The act defines bureaucrats, politicians and others who draw salary from the state exchequer as public servants.

Nitish Kumar has admitted time and again that rampant corruption had hit the implementation of development projects and welfare schemes for the poorest of the poor in the state.

The state vigilance department has arrested over 350 government officials, including 50 gazetted employees, on bribery charges in the last four years as part of its anti-corruption drive.

The first phase of polls for 47 of the 243 assembly seats was held on Thursday and the second phase of polls for 45 seats will be held on Sunday.