Postpone Bihar elections amid Covid, Nitish Kumar ally Chirag Paswan writes to election commission

Chirag Paswan said the deadly infection can spread like wildfire with politicians campaigning and electors casting votes through shared voting machines.

Earlier, the opposition made a similar demand, and Paswan's letter could create conflict between the NDA allies, BJP, JD (U) and LJP, which rule Bihar.

Since the disease has already taken a "formidable" form in Bihar, he said, the focus should be on saving lives rather than conducting elections.

Paswan pointed out the experts' view that the disease would worsen in Bihar in October-November period and large parts of Bihar is struggling with a grave flood situation.

"Conducting elections as per the ICMR's guidelines will be extremely difficult," he wrote in the letter.

He questioned how voting could be possible when the disease is spreading rapidly and those already infected will not get the chance to vote at all.

There are 8 crore voters in Bihar and it will be impossible to make them vote while maintaining social distancing and other Covid protocols, he said.

Bihar has reported 48,477 coronavirus cases so far, including over 280 deaths.

Chirag pressed on the need to direct the state's resources to rehabilitating flood-affected people and improving health facilities, which according to several social media posts are reeling under mismanagement.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been facing continuous attacks from opposition RJD, which says the state government is downplaying the coronavirus situation so that the assembly elections can be held on time.

RJD leader and leader of opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav has accused Bihar Chief Minister of ignoring the coronavirus and flood situation in the state, worrying only about his seat.

Congress, the other opposition party in Bihar, has backed RJD's demand for postponing the elections and criticising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP leaders for holding virtual election rallies.