Charges of vote rigging reopen Indian state polls

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Congress (I) Party demanded a second vote in 18 of the 76 constituencies in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir after alleging that its rivals had rigged the ballot and intimidated voters in the first vote last Sunday.

Parts of 10 constituencies in the Himalayan state were already voting again Wednesday amid tight security after the election commission ordered a new vote at 18 polling stations. But the Congress Party said a new vote should be taken throughout the 10 seats and in eight others as well.