Don’t bring assembly polls forward: JMM appeal to EC

Ranchi: Submitting a memorandum to the visiting Election Commission (EC) team, the coalition partners on Monday demanded that the apex poll body in the country should not rush the Jharkhand assembly election before the stipulated time, arguing that any early polls would amount to doing injustice to the popular mandate given to them by the voters in 2019.
BJP demanded the removal of incumbent home secretary, Vandana Dadel, who is also the cabinet coordination secretary, from all poll-related works after raising questions about her “neutrality”.
The 12-member EC team led by chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar began a two-day tour of the state to take stock of the poll preparations. The team is scheduled to hold deliberations with different stakeholders to finalise dates and other modalities related to the assembly polls.
JMM stressed that the election must not be brought forward. “In 2019, the results were declared on December 23 and the new govt took oath on December 29. Therefore, we demand that the election must be held from the first week of December. Any poll announcement before that will cut short the elected govt’s tenure, which will affect public welfare,” it said.
The tribal party demanded that the EC should ensure a level playing field and put strict curbs on hate speeches and any attempt at polarisation, accusing BJP of trying to divide people on communal lines.
It also said the state has adequate security forces and the menace of Left-wing extremism is also on the wane. “There won’t be much need for CRPF or other central paramilitary forces during the polls,” it said.
Echoing its ally, Congress said, “We demand that the EC conduct the election in one phase in Jharkhand on the lines of Haryana so that those aiming to spoil the social harmony may not adopt the path of religious and communal polarisation.”
The other demands included the construction of new booths for those having 1,500 or more voters, close monitoring and prompt action on hate speech and giving priority to voters above 60 years of age.
RJD, also part of the ruling coalition, demanded more voter-friendly booths, both in terms of facilities and proximity from the voter’s homes.
Meanwhile, state convenor of BJP’s legal cell, Sudhir Srivastava, said, “She (Dadel) violated the service code by writing to the EC in the past against BJP’s central leaders accusing them of making hate speeches. This indicates that she can’t act neutral. She earlier wrote to the ED questioning the latter’s actions in Jharkhand against scams. The ED snubbed her for her conduct. Hence, we appealed to the EC to keep her away from poll-related works to ensure fair polls.”
The saffron party also demanded that the poll panel ensure that “Bangladeshi infiltrators” can’t vote. “In over a dozen booths, mainly in Santhal Pargana, Muslim voters have increased by over 100% in the last five years. It is a clear indication that infiltrators are managing to get themselves enrolled in the voters’ list here. The EC must ensure that only bonafide voters can exercise their franchise,” he said.