LJP writes to EC against Bihar election in October-November

PATNA: BJP ally LJP led by Chirag Paswan has written to the Election Commission against holding Bihar assembly election in October-November, pleading that it will otherwise amount to deliberately “pushing people towards death”.
In a letter to the EC on Friday, Chirag wrote, “At present all the resources should be focused on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and floods and not holding elections. Going by views expressed by some health experts, the situation will turn for the worse in October-November when elections are due in the state.”
The LJP’s stand on the state elections is opposite to that of JD(U), another BJP ally, as the chief minister Nitish Kumar-led party is in favour of holding them on time. The BJP has maintained that it’s the EC’s prerogative to decide. The opposition RJD and Congress are also in favour of postponing the elections, citing the prevailing situation in Bihar.
The EC had sought the views of all parties on the Bihar elections by July 31.
RJD’s Abdul Bari Siddiqui has also written to EC saying, “It’s the EC’s responsibility to ensure that the electors exercise their franchise without fear of getting infected with Covid-19 at polling booths. The present condition doesn’t indicate so.” He has cited the data of Covid-19 positive patients as well as deaths due to the virus to support his views.
Referring to digital electioneering, the RJD stated, “All the political parties and contestants should be given level playing field. But this seems not to be fair with political parties with limited resources if virtual mode of electioneering is allowed. We are still firm on our earlier stand on the issue.”
Congress also opposed the virtual mode of electioneering and demanded deferment of the elections. Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, “The state is reeling from Covid-19 pandemic and floods. Under such circumstances, holding elections will not be fair. It will be like putting people’s lives in danger.”
Reacting over the latest development, JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, “A student, who studies for the whole session regularly, doesn’t fear the final exams. So is the case with JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar, who has been working continuously and is now ready to face elections.”