BJP And JDU Demand Central Forces In Bihar, Push For One-Phase Elections After Chhath Festival

National News: Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal met Election Commission officials and demanded strict security arrangements for the upcoming Assembly elections. He said polls should be completed in one or two phases only. According to him, spreading elections in multiple phases creates unnecessary problems. BJP has asked for paramilitary forces to be deployed in areas where booth capturing has been a past problem. He also requested special attention to riverine areas where incidents of voter intimidation have been reported. Jaiswal emphasized the need for flag marches to build voter confidence.

Verification Of Voter Identity

Jaiswal raised the issue of voter identity verification. He said that women wearing burqas should have their faces matched with their Voter ID cards before voting. This, according to him, will ensure that only genuine voters can cast their ballots. He argued that fair elections cannot happen unless fake voting is stopped completely. BJP has urged the Election Commission to strictly implement this guideline. He added that elections should be free from any fear or manipulation.

Demand For Paramilitary Deployment

BJP further asked the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary forces in sensitive villages. According to Jaiswal, weaker sections and marginalized communities often face threats during elections. He insisted that paramilitary forces be present days before voting to give confidence to the poor. BJP also demanded mounted police deployment in riverbank areas where booth capturing incidents have previously taken place. These steps, Jaiswal said, are crucial to maintain trust in the electoral process.

JDU Wants Single-Phase Polls

On the other hand, JDU also met the Election Commission with similar demands. JDU leaders argued that Bihar should conduct elections in a single phase like Maharashtra, which managed polls for more seats in one day. They said Bihar has only 243 seats compared to Maharashtra’s 288. JDU also requested elections immediately after the Chhath festival, so that migrant workers returning home can vote. This, according to JDU, will help ensure maximum voter participation.

Concerns For Migrant Voters

JDU’s working president Sanjay Kumar Jha told the Election Commission that many migrant workers return to Bihar during Chhath and Diwali. Therefore, the election schedule should consider their availability. He said migrant votes are important and should not be ignored. JDU also demanded that paramilitary forces be deployed at all polling booths. According to them, poor and weaker communities should be able to vote without any pressure. They believe this will help maintain democratic fairness in Bihar.

Election Commission’s Suggestions

The Election Commission also gave guidelines to political parties during the meeting. It advised polling agents not to leave without collecting Form 17C after voting ends. This form contains details of the votes polled. The Commission said skipping this step often leads to unnecessary disputes later. It stressed that all parties must cooperate to ensure smooth elections. The EC said elections will be conducted as per rules and security concerns raised will be considered seriously.

Election Dates And Speculations

According to BJP, elections should be held by 3 or 4 November if announced soon. They argued that delaying the process would create confusion. Both BJP and JDU have asked for elections to be held as quickly as possible. Many opposition parties also attended the Election Commission meeting. Most of them agreed that elections should happen right after Chhath festival. The political atmosphere in Bihar is heating up, and security remains the top demand of every party.