Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has asserted that the Election Commission maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards violence during the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. Speaking on Sunday, he urged citizens to actively participate in the electoral process, assuring them that the commission is prepared to ensure peaceful voting.
“I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process, and everyone come to exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, Election Commission wants to make it clear that the Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. No incident of violence will be tolerated. The Election Commission is ready to make sure that the electors can peacefully vote. Our 243 returning officers, that many observers, every zilla’s collectors, zilla adhikari, SP, SSP, police observers, everyone is ready,” Kumar stated during an interaction with reporters in Kanpur.
Kumar made these remarks during his visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA). His comments came shortly after the arrest of a Janata Dal (United) candidate from the Mokama constituency in connection with the alleged murder of Dularchand Yadav, a campaigner for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. Following the incident, the Election Commission ordered the transfer of several key officials in Mokama and requested a detailed report from the Bihar Director General of Police.
Addressing concerns about impartiality, the CEC emphasized that the Election Commission views both the ruling parties and the opposition equally. “In Bihar elections, every political party, in their own way, are asking for electors to vote for them. I want to say it once again that for Election Commission no one is in ruling, or opposition side, everyone is neutral,” he said.
Kumar expressed confidence that the Bihar assembly polls would be conducted transparently and efficiently, setting a benchmark for the nation and the world. The state is scheduled to vote in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14.