‘Bihar LC polls scheduled on Friday to keep Muslim voters away’

Jamui (Bihar): Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has accused the Election Commission of deliberately scheduling polling for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats on a Friday to minimise Muslim voter participation, alleging that the poll body is increasingly acting in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to reports.

Polling for the eight seats is scheduled for October 23, a Friday. Kishor argued that the timing was intended to disadvantage Muslim voters, who traditionally attend extended prayers on Fridays. He pointed out that elections to Legislative Council constituencies representing teachers and graduates had usually been held on Sundays, a day he said would make voting more accessible.

Kishor alleged that the Election Commission’s decisions had repeatedly raised questions about its impartiality. He said public anger and street protests stemmed from the perception that the poll body had taken the BJP’s side, and accused it of now arranging election schedules in ways that could provide further advantages to the ruling party.

He also questioned the timeline for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, alleging that polling was held within 28 days of the announcement of the schedule, despite the Constitution prescribing a 30-day period. According to Kishor, the shortened campaign period denied the BJP’s opponents sufficient time to reach voters and campaign effectively.

The Jan Suraaj founder further accused the Election Commission of failing to act when money was transferred to the bank accounts of one crore women just two days before polling during the previous Assembly elections. He alleged that the commission remained a passive observer while such transfers occurred, even though it was responsible for ensuring a level playing field.