NEW DELHI, 4 September 2005 — With Bihar scheduled to go to the polls in four phases — Oct. 18, 26, Nov. 13 and Nov. 19 — the model code of conduct to be observed by politicians, parties and the government came into force yesterday.
Addressing a news conference, Chief Election Commissioner B.B. Tandon said the counting of votes will be done Nov. 22.
Notification for the first phase will be issued Sept. 23 and the last date for filing of nominations will be Sept. 30. After scrutiny is conducted on Oct. 1, the last date of withdrawal will be Oct. 3.
The first phase of voting will cover 11 districts and four constituencies of the capital, Patna. In the second phase, 69 constituencies covering 11 districts will go to the polls while 72 constituencies in 11 districts of north Bihar will vote in the third phase. The nine remaining constituencies of Patna and 41 constituencies in four districts will go to the polls in the final phase. Political parties expressed concern over the prolonged period of polling, but the Election Commission said it had to take into consideration security needs and festivals while picking the dates.
“‘We are holding the elections in four phases for the optimum deployment of paramilitary forces to utilize it in the maximum possible way,” Tandon said. ‘That is because of the security environment, which is no better than last time (February).’
The Bihar Assembly was dissolved on May 23 following the failure of any party to prove its majority in the 243-member assembly. Against 92 seats won by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal won 79, while the Lok Janshakti Party secured 29, Congress 10 and others 33 seats.
Describing Congress and the RJD as “two major secular forces” in Bihar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said yesterday that they had a major responsibility in ensuring that “secular” votes did not split to the benefit of “communal” forces.
Yechury said his party would talk to all secular parties in the fray to prevent division of secular votes. All parties should accept the fact that Lalu Prasad’s party is the largest secular formation in Bihar, Yechury asserted.
Talking to reporters on the second day of the three-day meeting of the CPI (M) central committee, Yechury also expressed reservations about the nature of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. “There is not only a crisis within the BJP, but a grave crisis faces the NDA. Some of the partners are thinking of coming out of the alliance. In this kind of a situation, the spread of the party is essential to fill the vacuum,” Yechury said.
Accusing the NDA of failing to play the role of the opposition effectively, Yechury said left parties, supporting the ruling United Progressive Alliance from outside, had to take the initiative in checking the government from pursuing any “anti-people” policy.
Lalu’s future is closely linked to the upcoming election, and so is that of his federal Cabinet colleague and rival Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP — who antagonized many by refusing to ally with any of the rival coalitions, thus thwarting government formation attempts.
