Amid a demand by the Opposition, and also a ruling alliance partner, to defer the impending Bihar Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Friday held a virtual meeting with the non-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), CPI (M), Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM), CPI, CPI (M) and CPI(ML) to discuss the conduct of Assembly polls in the State.
Sources in EC said that the meeting was convened with political parties of Bihar to discuss the conduct of coming Assembly polls. “It’s a routine process to discuss with all stakeholders including police, political parties, para military forces before taking the final decision on the conduct of polls,” sources added.
“Even though the poll body has already geared up its preparation for the Bihar Assembly polls, they may find it difficult to hold elections in these testing times, till the infections curve is flattened in the State. A large number of officials are required to hold elections, which may also be a challenge,” said an officer of EC on the condition of anonymity.
The Bihar Assembly will complete its current term on November 29. After the expiry of the term, the State will go under President’s Rule if elections are not held on time.
The Opposition parties have demanded that the Assembly polls be postponed for safety and security in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. They questioned why the ruling party wants to conduct the polls when people are dying and elections will become the super spreader event in the State.
While the BJP has said the Opposition wants the election to be postponed as it’s scared of losing. NDA ally in Bihar, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), also joined the Opposition chorus and wants to postpone the elections.
Experts feel elections will become a super-spreader of coronavirus infections in the State and October-November will be the peak of Covid-19. The Nitish Kumar Government has imposed complete lockdown in the State till July 31 after a massive surge in coronavirus infections. Taking note of it, the Centre has decided to send a special team to assess the situation.
Before the virtual meeting with the poll body, the opposition parties in the State wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora urging him to reassess
conducting the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. Contending that the COVID-19 situation in Bihar is “rapidly worsening”, the parties called for an informed decision regarding holding the elections.
They requested the CEC to evolve a mechanism that protects the health of democracy as well as that of people. According to them, there was a possibility of Bihar having more than a million novel coronavirus cases by October-November, when the election is scheduled to take place.
Pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Bihar badly, the
political parties highlighted the existence of 89 containment zones in Patna and lockdown being re-imposed in 16 districts of the State.
Currently, there are 21,764 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Bihar out of which 14,018 patients have been discharged while 197 fatalities have been reported. Moreover, they claimed that there are many more infected people who haven’t been tested.
The Opposition parties, wondered how the poll panel will ensure physical distancing of at least two yards in a state with a population of around 13 crore and electorate of 7.5 crore.