Bihar assembly polls to be held on time: EC

The collective voice of opposition parties in Bihar to postpone assembly polls in the state has gone unheard as the Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced that the elections will be held on time, and that it is making all preparations keeping in view the COVID-19 crisis.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora told India Today on Monday (August 10) that “the commission has directed CEO Bihar to limit the number of electors per polling station to a maximum of 1,000 (as opposed to the current limit of 1,500).” This will reduce the average number of electors per polling station from 985 to 678, thereby leading to lesser numbers gathering at each polling station.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party had earlier requested the EC to postpone the elections, arguing that it is not a wise decision to risk the lives of lakhs of people.

The Congress too was opposed to holding elections in November. “The safety of a person and society is of topmost importance. The situation in Bihar and the rest of the country is pathetic. In Bihar every third family has a Covid-19 case,” Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh had told news agency ANI.

The ruling Janata Dal (United), however, has maintained that the elections should be held on time so that “the new government works on development.”

The BJP, meanwhile, has kept silent on the issue. The party’s stand is that whether to hold an election or postpone it is the prerogative of the Election Commission.

Earlier, the Election Commission had asked for suggestions from political parties on holding the assembly elections in the state. The deadline of July 31 was increased to August 11 by the commission.

The term of Nitish Kumar government will end on November 29. If the election process is not completed by November 28, President’s rule will have to be imposed in the state.