'No ruling or opposition': CEC reacts after JD(U) Mokama candidate Anant Singh's arrest; asserts 'zero tolerance' for violence'

NEW DELHI: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar reacted to the arrest of JD(U) candidate Anant Singh saying that there was "no 'paksh' or 'vipaksh' (ruling side or opposition)" for the Election Commission of India. The former Bihar MLA was arrested in connection with the murder of gangster-turned-politician Dular Chand Yadav during poll campaigning in Mokama.

"For the Election Commission, there is no 'paksh' or 'vipaksh' (ruling side or opposition). Everyone is 'samkaksh' (equal) before us,” Gyanesh Kumar said on Sunday.

"Any act of violence will not be tolerated. All voters will be able to cast their votes peacefully, freely and transparently. The Election Commission is fully prepared for this," he added.

The EC on Saturday directed the transfer of Patna’s Superintendent of Police (Rural) and initiated action against three other officials, following the violent incident.

“Our 243 Returning Officers, an equal number of observers, district collectors, superintendents of police, police observers, and expenditure observers are all ready. I am confident that the elections in Bihar will set an example -- not only for transparency, capability, simplicity, and the festive spirit of democracy -- but also as a model for the entire world,” Kumar said.

Bihar’s 243-member Assembly will hold elections in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.