As the Bihar assembly elections draw near, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally requested the Election Commission (EC) to implement thorough verification measures for burqa-clad women voters. The BJP's demand has sparked controversy, drawing criticism from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main opposition party in Bihar, which alleges the request is a "political conspiracy".
Dilip Jaiswal, the Bihar BJP chief, conveyed the request after a meeting with the EC team led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Jaiswal emphasized the importance of tallying the faces of all voters, especially women in burqas, with their respective Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to ensure that only legitimate voters exercise their right to vote. He stated that this measure would help prevent voter fraud and maintain the integrity of the electoral process. The BJP has also requested that the elections be conducted in one or two phases.
In response, the RJD has strongly opposed the BJP's request, viewing it as a deliberate attempt to target a specific community and push a political agenda. Abhay Kushwaha, who led the RJD delegation, questioned the timing of the demand, especially after the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which includes the issuance of new EPIC cards with updated photographs. Kushwaha argued that the existing identification processes are sufficient and accused the BJP of attempting to create unnecessary divisions within the electorate.
The RJD has also raised concerns regarding the deletion of 3.66 lakh names from the electoral roll following the SIR and has requested the EC to disclose the details of those removed. Furthermore, the party urged the EC to prevent the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government from making populist announcements without budgetary allocations and to monitor personal attacks during the election campaign.
Beyond the controversy surrounding the verification of burqa-clad voters, the BJP has also requested heightened security measures, including the deployment of paramilitary forces in villages with significant populations from weaker sections of society. Jaiswal also suggested deploying cavalry in riverine areas with a history of booth capturing. These measures, according to the BJP, would instill confidence among voters and prevent any attempts at voter intimidation.
The EC is currently on a two-day tour of Bihar, engaging with various political parties to ensure a free and fair election. While most parties agreed that the elections should be conducted in a minimal number of phases, opinions diverged significantly on the issue of verifying burqa-clad voters. The EC is yet to respond to the specific demands raised by the BJP and the RJD. The election dates are expected to be announced soon, and the political atmosphere in Bihar is likely to intensify as parties gear up for the crucial assembly polls.
