Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on July 9 declared that it would not contest next assembly elections in Bihar to be held in October-November this year, if conventional campaign was not permitted.
Bihar RJD President Jagadanand Singh told media persons in Patna that his party had decided not to contest Bihar assembly elections to be held in October-November this year, if conventional campaign was not permitted.
In this phase of COVID-19 pandemic, talks of virtual rally, digital campaign and digital voting were doing rounds for conducting elections which could not be acceptable to RJD, he added.
Singh said that a decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of party leaders called at 10, Circular Road residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi.
Election Commission had the rights to conduct elections but RJD could not allow voters to be put at risk, he added.
The state RJD president said that without conventional campaign, elections would be farce. RJD was prepared to face elections if conducted with provision of conventional campaigning and voting, he stressed.
Singh said, the situation in COVID-19 pandemic had reached beyond control. Government had started taking decision of imposing lockdown and how could elections be held in this situation, he added.
