Ending speculation over the timing of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission on Friday said that the state polls would be held before the expiry of the tenure of the current Vidhan Sabha.
The EC issued a statement which said that considering that Assembly elections of Bihar are due and required to be completed before 29 November, “the Commission has decided to conduct all the 65 by-elections and the Assembly elections of Bihar around the same time.”
This development affirms The Daily Guardian’s report from 12 August, which had spoke of the Election Commission’s deliberation to ensure timely elections in Bihar. One of the major reasons for clubbing them together is the relative ease of movement of CAPF and other law and order forces, and related logistics issues, the statement said. The EC also said, “The Commission reviewed the reports and inputs from Chief Secretaries/Chief Electoral Officers of many of the concerned states seeking deferment of the by-elections in their states in view of several factors including the extraordinary heavy rains in some places and other constraints like pandemic etc.”
On 12 August, the EC had rejected demands by political parties in Bihar, including the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), to postpone the Assembly elections in the state.
The political parties in Bihar, including the RJD and LJP, had written a letter to the EC saying that it is not advisable to put the lives of lakhs of people at risk by holding elections at this time.
On 5 July, Bihar›s Chief Electoral Officer had sent several proposals to the Election Commission of India to ensure that voters adhere to social distancing norms for the state assembly elections.
The Chief Electoral Officer had recommended the use of toothpicks for voting over wearing of khadi gloves inside polling booths. He suggested, “There are at least three places inside the polling booth where physical contact could happen with voters. First, when the voter signs or puts their thumb impression in the voter register; second, when the indelible ink is put on their finger; and third, when the voter casts their vote.” The tenure of the current Assembly in Bihar will end on 29 November. President’s Rule will have to be imposed if the election process is not completed by 28 November in the state.