Cong, RJD & AIMIM cite Covid, urge EC to use paper ballots

NEW DELHI: Congress, RJD and AIMIM have suggested that Election Commission use paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Bihar poll and by-elections, citing the high risk of Covid-19 infection due to hundreds of voters coming in contact with each machine, reports Bharti Jain. BJP, on the other hand,suggested awareness campaigns by EC to encourage voters to come out and vote without fear by taking adequate safety measures against Covid-19.
Importantly, BJP has sought a direction from EC that no person lodged in jail post-conviction or as an undertrial be permitted to campaign in the virtual mode. The ruling ally in Bihar wants strict consequences to be spelt for any party allowing participation by a jailed member either directly or indirectly through social media. While no names were taken, the suggestion appears to be aimed at blocking any virtual campaign by jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav.
While four parties – LJP, NCP, AAP and NPP– outrightly sought deferring of Bihar poll in view of the pandemic and floods, others like RJD, Congress and Trinamool Congress only questioned the need to time polls amid this situation.