CEC meets representatives of political parties in Bihar

An Election Commission (EC) team led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi arrived in the state capital today on a two-day visit to assess preparations for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The CEC, Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti and Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha met representatives of political parties separately and sought their opinion, suggestions and took their requests with regard to the elections.
A delegation of the ruling JD(U) led by its state president Vashisht Narayan Singh submitted a ten point memorandum seeking various measures to ensure free and fair polls.
JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar said "our party has demanded adequate deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces including CRPF, BSF and Rapid Action Force. Police forces from such states, whose impartiality has been under doubt, should not be deployed in the state. If needed, forces should be brought from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand."

Kumar said his party drew the EC's attention to the fact that the polls would be held during important festivals and occasions like Dushehra, Diwali, Chhath and Muharram.
"At such a time, anti-social elements may try to incite communal passions. Since the administration will work under the supervision of the EC, our leaders have asked it to ensure strict measures to maintain communal harmony and peace," he said.

A five-member delegation of the RJD, a JD(U) ally in the coming elections, was led by its state president Ram Chandra Purvey, while its legislative party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui, MLC Bhola Yadav, general secretary Mundrika Singh Yadav and Chittaranjan Gagan were part of the delegation.

"We (RJD) have demanded mini-booths in localities inhabited by people belonging to Scheduled Castes, extremely backward castes and other weaker sections are able to caste their votes without any fear or obstruction from musclemen," Bhola Yadav said.
Yadav also said the RJD has demanded that the option of NOTA be removed from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as illiterate or less educated voters were unable to differentiate it with other symbols.