‘Zero tolerance for violence’: CEC Kumar assures of peaceful Bihar polls in wake of Mokama murder

In the wake of the shocking murder of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav in Mokama during poll campaigning, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday assured that the Bihar Assembly Elections will be held under a completely peaceful atmosphere and transparent manner, asserting that the Election Commission of India has zero tolerance towards violence.

Speaking to reporters in Kanpur, CEC Kumar said, “The Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. Bihar elections will be conducted in a completely peaceful, law-abiding, transparent manner, and all voters will have the opportunity to celebrate it as a festival.”

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The first phase of voting in Bihar is on November 6 and the second phase is on November 11, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14th.

The CEC said that he is “hopeful that people will come out to cast their votes in large numbers”.

His remarks hold significance as they came against the backdrop of pre-poll violence in the state, where NDA candidate Anant Singh, a ‘Bahubali leader’ of JD-U, allegedly murdered Dularchand Yadav in Mukama on October 30.

Earlier today, Singh was arrested by the police following an FIR filed by Yadav’s family.

The poll panel had also taken cognisance of the incident, seeking a report from the Bihar DGP.

Yadav was a supporter of Jan Suraaj Party candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. The incident occurred near Khushhal Chak, where Priyadarshi, also known as Lallu Mukhiya, was campaigning.

At the same time, a convoy of Anant Singh, contesting on a JD-U ticket, was passing through the area, leading to an altercation between supporters of the two rival camps.

The situation turned violent, and Yadav, a former RJD leader, sustained bullet injuries. He was declared dead by doctors on the way to the hospital.