Demand grows for postponement of Bihar elections

The assembly elections are scheduled to be held in October-November

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar | PTI Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar | PTI

Even as the number of coronavirus positive cases continues to rise in Bihar, the chorus to postpone elections in the state scheduled for October-November is growing. The state government has already imposed lockdown in 10 districts with varying degree of severity. 

Bihar is the first state to go for elections amidst the pandemic. The election commission has suggested postal ballots for COVID-19 positive patients, and other vulnerable groups, a move which  has been opposed by several opposition parties.

After RJD opposed the elections, even LJP chief Chirag Paswan said holding elections during such a time will prove to be an additional burden on the people. A day later, election strategist Prashant Kishore appealed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to focus on fighting COVID-19, rather than deputing resources for the conduct of the elections. Kishor, who had been part of the JD(U), was expelled earlier this year. He has floated his own youth initiative, Bihar Ki Baat.

As Chirag Paswan, whose LJP is part of the ruling NDA alliance, asked for postponement of the elections, and even stated that his party was busy preparing list of booth in-charges for the entire state, it led to  speculations in political circles. LJP wants more seats in the upcoming elections from the kitty of JD(U) and BJP.

BJP was quick to counter those opposing the elections. “It's upto the Election Commission to decide on the polls, and those who are opposing it are against democracy,” BJP Bihar MLA Sanjay Paswan said, adding that both BJP and JD(U) were in power in the state even without the LJP. 

Currently, all the political parties, especially the smaller ones, are trying to assert themselves for a better bargain in the seat sharing.

In the opposition space, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has been pushing for contesting elections under joint leadership rather than under RJD's Tejashwi Yadav. Manjhi has, however, agreed to holding elections on time.

The holding of elections on its schedule, and its process could force realignment of political parties in the state. The BJP, which has already started its political activities, is all for holding elections on schedule. The JD(U), too, is geared to go for elections as scheduled, a move which other parties feel puts them on disadvantage due to the prevalence of COVID-19.