Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, leading a team to Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections, said here on Saturday that all field officers in the State had been asked to ensure free and fair elections. He said the Election Commission would announce the polling dates after factoring in floods, festivals and other things.
“After meeting representatives of political parties and bureaucrats and police officers from all districts, we’ve directed them to hold free, fair and peaceful elections. Social and communal harmony must be maintained during the polls,” Mr. Zaidi said.
He was happy with the preparations. Nearly 47 lakh new voters were enrolled in the past two years and 24 lakh voters aged 18-19 would get a chance to vote for the first time.
“We have also categorised the constituencies as per their sensitiveness and have asked the officers to focus on a high turnout,” Mr. Zaidi said. “More vigilance should also be there to prevent distribution of liquor and money to voters.”
On Friday, representatives of political parties met the team and made suggestions to ensure free and fair elections.
The BJP demanded the transfer of all administrative officers working in a district for over three years. The party sought the immediate transfer of Home Secretary Amir Subhani, who has been holding the post for six years. However, the Rashtriya Janata Dal protested against the demand. “By demanding the transfer of an honest Muslim officer, the BJP wants the votes to polarise. I condemn the BJP’s bid to divide officers on religious and caste lines,” RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddqui said.
Ram Chandra Purvey, who led the RJD team at the meeting, said he pitched for the use of horse-drawn carts in the campaign. Earlier, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested before the EC team against the use of such carts by the RJD in election campaigns.
The Congress demanded that paramilitary forces be deployed in all polling booths. The Lok Jan Shakti Party wanted elections held under the President’s Rule, with polling booths under CCTV surveillance.
The Left parties asked the commission to check the use of money and muscle power and paid news.
“We met the representatives of the political parties. We will look into their suggestions and take proper initiatives … ,” Mr. Zaidi said.
He said the EC would try to deploy Central forces in the maximum number of booths.
Bihar has 243 Assembly constituencies. The polling is likely to be held in October-November.
