Bihar Assembly elections, CEC Nasim Zaidi meets representatives of political parties in Bihar, RJD, NOTA , Bihar Assembly polls 2015, Neeraj Kumar, JD(U) , Bihar Elections 2015,Nasim Zaidi,Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),Lok Janashakti Party (LJP),Rashtriya
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- Category: Bihar Political News
- Last Updated: Saturday, 08 August 2015 12:47
An Election Commission (EC) team led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi arrived in the state capital on Friday 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.
"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.
"Over 60 lakh votes were wasted during the last Lok Sabha polls due to the NOTA provision. We have also requested the EC to use latest EVMs and conduct videography of all polling stations to boost up confidence of the downtrodden," Yadav added. The RJD delegation appealed the EC not to ban the use of traditional vehicles like 'tamtams' (single horse drawn carriages) and bullock carts for campaigning in the elections as animal rights body PETA has demanded.
"We have appealed the EC to identify all tainted officials right from those at top posts to Station House Officer (SHO) level and keep them away from poll related duties. We have also demanded that those posted at one place for three years be removed," Pandey said. Among its 20 demands, the BJP said each polling centre in Naxal-affected districts should have maximum 600 voters only, instead of 1,000 as voting time in such areas was limited from 7 AM to 3 PM.
It also demanded all booths and polling centres to be covered with CCTV and live webcast of the footage. BJP allies Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) also sent their delegations and put their demands before the EC team.
The EC team would meet senior administrative officials including state Chief Secretary, Commissioners, IT officers and others tomorrow and was expected to return with the feedback and announce the election dates soon.
SRC: dnaindia