A delegation with CPIML Bihar Legislative Party leader and CC member Mahboob Alam and senior leader KD Yadav met various opposition party leaders on 6 July 2020 on the issue of protesting against virtual rallies for election campaigning, and appealed for a joint memorandum to the Election Commission.
The opposition leaders met by the CPIML delegation included RJD State President Jagtanand Singh and General Secretary Alok Mehta, HAM(S) State President and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, CPI State Secretary Satyanarayan Singh, and CPIM State Secretary Awadhesh Kumar. They discussed the issue of virtual rallies and also suggested a format for the memorandum to the Election Commission. They could not meet any leaders from Congress, VIP and RLSP, but leaders from these parties have also been appealed to for submitting a joint memorandum to the EC.
MLA Mahboob Alam said that BJP and JDU want to steal the election by campaigning through virtual rallies in order to escape the anger of the people, but we will not let that happen. All the opposition parties are agreed and united against virtual campaigning.
He further said that the Corona infection is rapidly increasing in Bihar. BJP and JDU have also washed their hands of any responsibility for this and they have no concern for the people.
Opposition parties believe that an election conducted through virtual methods will not result in the true expression of the people’s democratic rights and aspirations, because parties like the BJP-JDU will have an unbridled use of power and money and financially weaker parties will be only partially able to reach the people. In this situation, opposition parties wish to know from the Election Commission how it can guarantee equal rights to all parties and at the same time curb Corona infection.
The CPIML leaders said that a format for the memorandum has been given to opposition parties for discussion and consideration. A joint delegation will meet the Election Commission to submit the memorandum after all suggestions have been received and necessary amendments have been made.
