In the lead-up to the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has launched a series of allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), prompting a strong rebuttal from the poll body. Yadav, the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc, has accused the ECI of bias, lack of transparency, and acting under the influence of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Yadav's primary concern revolves around the ECI's alleged delay in releasing gender-wise voter turnout data from the first phase of polling, which took place on November 6. He argued that it was unprecedented for the ECI to withhold this information, as it was typically provided immediately after polling in the past. "The EC has not disclosed the gender-wise data of electors who cast their votes on November 6 even after four days have passed from the first phase of assembly polls," Yadav stated. He further questioned the motives behind the delay, suggesting that the ECI was concealing the data to favor the ruling party.
In response to Yadav's allegations, ECI officials have issued point-by-point clarifications, defending the commission's neutrality and adherence to established protocols. Regarding the gender-wise voter data, the ECI clarified that this information is routinely published along with the final turnout figures, and there was no deviation from the standard practice. An ECI official stated that the overall gender ratio with regard to voter turnout is generally given at the time of final turnout, especially with another round of voting still to be conducted. The first phase recorded a voter turnout of 65.08%.
Yadav also raised concerns about the deployment of security personnel from BJP-ruled states for election duties in Bihar, alleging that 208 companies of paramilitary forces were sourced largely from these states. He questioned the rationale behind this decision, suggesting a potential bias in favor of the ruling party. The ECI countered this claim by stating that nearly 80% of the police forces are drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), while only about 20% are deployed from the State Armed Police forces, which are drawn proportionately from different states as per availability.
Furthermore, Yadav accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to influence district officials in Bihar to win the election. He claimed to have information that Shah was calling district officials and giving them instructions. The ECI has not directly addressed these specific allegations but has generally reiterated its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections, warning against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process.
The BJP has also responded to Yadav's allegations, with senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissing them as "false" and a sign of "desperation". Prasad accused opposition leaders of making it a "habit" to attack democratic institutions when they do not get the desired results. He also expressed confidence in the NDA's victory in the Bihar Assembly polls.
As the second phase of polling approaches, the war of words between Tejashwi Yadav and the ECI has intensified, raising questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. The ECI has maintained its commitment to conducting free and fair elections, while Yadav has vowed to not allow any form of vote theft or dishonesty. The results of the Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled to be announced on November 14, will reveal whether these concerns have had any impact on the outcome.
