Bihar Assembly polls as per schedule: EC

New Delhi: A day after the Election Commission rejected the demand of political parties in Bihar to postpone Assembly elections in the state and said that elections in the state will be held on time, sources said that the Union home ministry has started preparations for elections in terms of organising para-military forces and other security arrangements.

The tenure of the current Bihar Assembly will end on November 29, and polls are expected to be held in either end October or November. President’s rule has to be imposed in the state if the election process is not completed by November 28.

Political parties in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), had urged the poll panel to postpone elections in the state. The LJP had written a letter to the Election Commission saying it is not advisable to put the lives of lakhs of people at risk by holding elections at a time when there has been a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in the state.

But Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora reiterated on Monday that elections in Bihar will be held on time, and that the poll panel is making preparations keeping in view the Covid-19 situation.