Opposition parties asks EC to give a guarantee that coming Bihar polls would not be a medium for further spread of Covid-19

PATNA: Bihar’s leading opposition parties including Lalu Prasad–led RJD, Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP, Jitan Ram Majhi-led HAM(S), CPI-ML, CPI and CPM, on Wednesday submitted a joint memorandum to the Election Commission through the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO), asking the poll body to give a guarantee that the forthcoming assembly polls would not become a medium for further spreading covid-19.
“Due to covid-19, the government has allowed participation of a maximum of 50 people at any public event. At the same time, the Election Commission has decided to reduce the maximum number of electors at a polling station to 1,000. Even if the number of electors is reduced to 1,000 at a polling station, it would be a huge gathering. Will this not lead to a possibility of further spread of covid-19 among people?” the opposition parties have asked in the memorandum.
Though the memorandum-- signed by the state heads or other state office-bearers of the RJD, CPI-ML, RLSP, HAM(S), CPI and CPM—does not say anything about deferring the state assembly polls in the wake of covid-19, political analysts feel the opposition parties by raising the issue of threat of spread of covid-19 due to assembly of around 1,000 people at a polling station, have indirectly demanded postponement of the coming polls.
The assembly polls in the state are due in the month of October –November this year and ruling parties like BJP and JD(U) are busy campaigning among the public through virtual meetings. The BJP and the JD(U) have so far organized more than 100 virtual meets across the state, seeking people’s support for re-installing an NDA government in the state.
Raising objection over holding of such virtual meetings, the opposition parties, in the memorandum, also demanded a level playing field for all political parties during the campaigning and sought a break on the virtual meetings.
“Instead of virtual meetings, the electioneering should be held through traditional methods. The EC should explain to people as to how it would hold elections through virtual methods in a state where Internet availability is only 37%,” the memorandum said.
The five –member delegation, which submitted the memorandum to the CEO, comprised of Dhirendra Jha (CPI-ML), Rajesh Yadav (RLSP), B L Vaishyantri (HAM-S), Arun Kumar Mishra (CPM) and Vijay Narayan Mishra (CPI).