BSP supremo Mayawati seeks more security forces for Bihar elections

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati today stressed on the need for deployment of central forces in large numbers on election duty in Bihar as she flagged concern for free and fair polls in the state.

“There is a need for deployment of central forces in large numbers in Bihar to conduct free and fair election,” Mayawati said in a statement here.

The Election Commission earlier today announced dates for the Assembly elections in Bihar, slated to be held between October 12 and November 5 in five phases. The electoral battle is seen as a major popularity test for NDA spearhead Prime Minister Narendra Modi and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is in alliance with RJD and Congress.

Referring to the religion-based census released by the BJP-led central government recently, the BSP chief alleged that the statistics were a “tactic” of the NDA to to influence voters.

“The Election Commission should keep an eye on this communal game of the BJP and people should remain vigilant,” the BSP president said.

Mayawati, whose party received a major drubbing at the hands of BJP in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, charged the Narendra Modi government with betraying the people.

The BJP and the RSS are indulging in “different dramas” to divert attention from its failures, Mayawati said, according to the statement.

She also termed as “inadequate” the six per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) of central employees, announced by the Centre today, just before the Bihar polls. However, she asked the UP government to provide the same benefits to the state employees.

Courtesy: PTI