Officials in the eastern state of Bihar said Devendra Dubey, an election contestant for a socialist party, and four others were killed by unidentified attackers in the northern district of Champaran bordering Nepal.
The elections have also been marred by widespread reports of voter intimidation and ballot-box fraud. India's Election Commission Tuesday announced it had ordered fresh polls in a total of almost 4,000 polling centers.
More than half are located in eastern Bihar, which has also accounted for most of the killings. About 30 deaths were recorded across the country on the opening day of the elections on Feb. 16. Some 25 more died during the second phase on Feb. 22 and four other election-related deaths were recorded the following day.
Tuesday's deaths took the total to 64. India's Election Commission, responsible for fair elections, has argued the total has been inflated by killings with no connection to the polls.
The statistics, however do not include around 100 other deaths recorded in the run-up to the election, including 58 who died in a string of bombings near a political rally earlier this month in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The next stage of the polls are on Feb. 28 and March 7. Counting begins on March 2.
Bihar has been plagued for years by armed confrontation between rich farmers and landless peasants. Most election victims there died in clashes between rival political groups or at the hands of left-wing revolutionaries opposed to the polls.
Outlawed separatist guerrillas in the north east of the country have also claimed many victims.
Past Articles:
· India's Bandit Queen of Revenge
Feb. 23, 1998
· Government Collapses; Riots Kill 12
Dec. 1, 1997