'Zero tolerance towards any form of violence during polls, Bihar elections will be conducted peacefully': CEC Gyanesh Kumar

CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar will be conducted in a completely peaceful and transparent manner under the framework of law and order and that the poll body has "zero tolerance for any violence during the electios".

Speaking to reporters in Kanpur, Kumar said, “The Election Commission has zero tolerance towards any form of violence during polls. The elections in Bihar will be conducted in a completely peaceful and transparent manner, and all voters will get the opportunity to celebrate the festival of democracy. The polling will be held under the framework of law and order.”

He reiterated that the for the poll body all political parties are equal.

“In the Bihar elections, every political party is contesting and appealing to voters in its own way. I want to make it clear once again that for the Election Commission, there is no ruling party or opposition - all are equal," Kumar said.

He further appealed the voters in Bihar to "celebrate this festival of democracy and come out to cast their votes."

Following the killing of Jan Suraaj supported Dularchand Yadav in Mokama, the CEC said that the Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence and that no act of violence will be tolerated.

"Common voters should be able to vote peacefully and transparently, as per their wishes. These elections in Bihar will set an example of transparency, efficiency, and simplicity - a true festival of democracy for India and the world," he said.

JD(U) candidate Anant Singh was arrested by the police from his house in Mokama in the wee hours on Sunday in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav during election campaigning in Mokama near Patna on Thursday.

Yadav died due to a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures during election campaigning in Mokama near Patna. He died while he was campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party's candidate Piyush Priyadarshi on Thursday.

The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, and the counting of votes will take place on November 14.