[Marxistindia] Letter to ECI on holding of elections to Bihar Assembly

[news from the cpi(m)]

July 29, 2020
Press Release
 
Shri Nilotpal Basu, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), had written the following
letter to the Election Commission of India expressing CPI(M)'s views in
response to their letter dated 17th July 2020 seeking opinions on the
modalities to be followed for holding elections to Bihar Assembly.
 
We are releasing the text of the letter for publication.
 
 
(For CPI(M) Central Committee office)
 
Dear Shri Butia ji,
 
This is in response to your letter No. 3/10/2020/SDR/Vol.1 dated 17th July
2020 to elicit our views on the modalities which need to be followed for
holding elections to the Bihar Assembly and some other by-elections.  
 
Taking into account the conditions imposed by the pandemic and the safety
requirements, according the highest priority to the safety of people's
lives, we want the Election Commission to ensure conditions that permit
elections to be held on the basis of physical participation of the voters
and the political parties.  We urge you to ensure that a free and fair
election takes place based on the inviolable  premise of level playing field
for all, as it is clear that exclusive virtual campaign driven activity is
loaded in favour of parties which have unlimited financial resources at
their command.    Therefore, campaign and polling exclusively through the
digital mode is not acceptable to us.  
 
We would like that election campaign public meetings by ensuring physical
distancing and other such safety requirements, are allowed.  Similarly,
candidate and representatives of the candidates with a smaller group of
campaigners are allowed to visit the homes of the voters subject to
maintenance of health and safety requirements.
 
Indian Constitution mandates the Election Commission to ensure that the
holding of elections should be in a manner which does not allow any unfair
advantage for any party contestant.
 
With regards,
Yours sincerely
 
Sd/-
(Nilotpal Basu)
Member, Polit Bureau
 
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