Tejashwi Yadav demands fresh polls in Bihar and West Bengal

The RJD leader’s demand follows the INDIA bloc’s announcement of a nationwide protest, the Save Democracy March, scheduled to take place at the district level from October 2 to October 8. Yadav specifically pointed to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as a mechanism for manipulation, arguing that the pilot program tested in Bihar was later expanded to undermine national standards. He advocated for a return to paper ballots to prevent further electoral irregularities.

Beyond the ballot box, Yadav painted a grim picture of governance in Bihar, describing a collapse of law and order where criminal elements operate with unchecked influence. He targeted the Election Commission, suggesting that legislative changes regarding the protection of officials like Gyanesh Kumar serve to shield individuals from accountability. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these institutional concerns, confirming that opposition leaders plan to meet President Droupadi Murmu in mid-October to address the perceived erosion of democratic safeguards and the alleged influence of the government over the electoral body.