CEC Assures Bihar Voters of Peaceful Polls After Political Tension in Mokama

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday reiterated the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) zero-tolerance stance on electoral violence while assuring Bihar voters of free, fair, and peaceful polls. Speaking to reporters in Kanpur after receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kanpur, Kumar highlighted the deployment of 243 returning officers, observers, district collectors, superintendents of police, and dedicated police observers across the state. He urged every eligible voter to participate without fear, promising elections that would set a global benchmark for transparency, competence, and ease. The first phase of polling is set for November 6, the second for November 11, with counting on November 14.

Kumar’s comments were triggered by the murder of independent politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in the Mokama assembly constituency. Yadav was shot dead while attending a rally for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshini. Hours later, police arrested Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama and a known political strongman with prior convictions in arms cases. The incident has cast a shadow over the high-voltage contest in Mokama, where Singh faces Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Veena Devi, wife of influential leader Surajbhan Singh, in the first-phase vote on November 6.

In a swift response on November 1, the ECI ordered the immediate transfer of three key officials from Mokama: Sub-Divisional Officer and Returning Officer Chandan Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rakesh Kumar, and SDPO Abhishek Singh. The Commission cited failure to maintain law and order and directed disciplinary action against them. It also demanded a detailed report from Bihar’s Director General of Police on the murder investigation, signalling its intent to hold local administration accountable and prevent further breaches.

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Kumar used the platform to reaffirm the ECI’s impartiality amid persistent allegations from opposition parties of bias toward the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. “For the Election Commission, no one is in the ruling or opposition—everyone is neutral,” he stated. He emphasised that the poll body’s sole mandate is to facilitate unbiased democratic expression, regardless of political affiliations or alliances.

As Bihar braces for a fiercely contested assembly election, the Mokama incident underscores the state’s history of muscle power in politics. The NDA coalition, led by JDU and BJP, faces the opposition Mahagathbandhan in a multi-phase battle where voter turnout and security will be decisive. With the ECI’s proactive measures now in motion, the coming days will test whether administrative reshuffles and heightened oversight can restore public confidence and ensure a violence-free electoral process.

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