Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday reaffirmed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) zero-tolerance policy towards violence, assuring voters in Bihar that preparations are in place to ensure peaceful, free, and fair elections.
Addressing reporters in Kanpur, Kumar said the ECI and its officers are fully committed to conducting transparent and impartial polls that will set a global benchmark for democratic practices.
“I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process and exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, the Election Commission wants to make it clear that it has zero tolerance towards any such incidents. No act of violence will be tolerated. The Commission is ready to ensure that electors can vote peacefully,” Kumar said.
He added, “Our 243 returning officers, observers, zilla collectors, SPs, SSPs, and police observers are all ready to ensure a smooth process.”
Kumar’s comments come in the wake of the murder of politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in the Mokama assembly constituency.
Yadav was attending a rally of Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshini when the incident occurred. Following the killing, Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh, was arrested.
The Chief Election Commissioner, who was in Kanpur to visit his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, had been conferred with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), the institute’s highest honour for exceptional achievements.
“Today I have come to IIT Kanpur as a former student, after they decided to acknowledge and honour me. I spent the most energetic years of my life here, and I am deeply attached to this city. It is my good fortune to return and visit IIT Kanpur,” he said.
Addressing repeated allegations that the Election Commission favours the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kumar emphasised the body’s neutrality.
“This is also that time when elections in Bihar are happening. Every political party is reaching out to electors in their own way. I want to say once again that for the Election Commission, no one is in ruling or opposition; everyone is neutral,” he said.
Kumar reiterated that the first phase of polling in Bihar will be held on November 6, the second phase on November 11, and counting on November 14.
Encouraging voters to participate actively, Kumar said the transparent and efficient conduct of the polls would serve as a model not only for India but for the world.
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“The hope is that the Bihar polls will be conducted transparently, competently, and with ease, setting an example not only for the country but globally,” he said.
Following Yadav’s murder, the Election Commission on November 1 ordered the immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials posted in the Mokama constituency and directed disciplinary action against them.
According to an official statement, the Commission approved the transfer of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Barh-cum-Returning Officer Chandan Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Barh-1 Rakesh Kumar, and SDPO Barh-2 Abhishek Singh in connection with the case.
The ECI also sought a detailed report from the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the incident.
Mokama, which goes to the polls in the first phase on November 6, is expected to witness a high-stakes contest in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
The Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh.
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