Bihar: Parties play it safe as netas test Covid-19 positive

PATNA: Amid the debate over conducting assembly polls at its scheduled time in October-November, more political leaders are testing positive for Covid-19 in the state. A BJP MLA from north Bihar, a spokesperson of the saffron party and a JD (U) functionary are the latest ones to have contracted the virus.
BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said several party workers and functionaries have given their samples for test after another spokesperson of the party tested positive for the virus.
Moreover, the offices of all major political parties, including BJP, RJD and JD(U), are closed and only a limited number of people are allowed inside for carrying out essential work, mostly related to poll preparations.
BJP’s state general secretary Devesh Kumar said though the party office is closed for common people, a limited number of workers, including those from the information technology (IT) cell, look after day-to-day digital interactions and other works. “The party office is closed due to enforcement of fresh lockdown in Patna. Workers entering the office follow social distancing norms and wear face masks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Covid-infected JD(U) functionary, who is also a doctor, said he, his wife and two children had tested positive for the virus. “First, my wife complained of fever three days ago. Being a doctor, I immediately got her Covid test done. Later, I also went for test along with our two children and the results came positive. Fortunately, all of us are asymptomatic. We are under home quarantine,” he said.
Even as most parties are going ahead with digital electioneering despite expressing reservations over conduct of the polls, many leaders have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past few days. RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and a former parliamentarian had earlier tested positive for the virus. Both have, however, recovered from the disease.
Bihar legislative council acting chairperson, a state minister and three MLAs – one each from BJP, Congress and RJD – have also tested positive for the virus.
“It is definitely not a safe time to go to crowded places or get large number of people gather at any place. That is why our party office is closed and only limited number of people are allowed for organisation works,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.