As Bihar heads toward a high-stakes assembly election later this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has found itself under mounting criticism from opposition parties. Key political outfits like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress have been accusing the Commission of lapses and bias. In response, the ECI has issued a strong appeal to the parties, urging them to focus on the electoral process rather than making unsubstantiated allegations.

The Commission has clarified that hurling accusations without evidence serves no purpose and only hampers the electoral process. It specifically advised political parties to stop wasting time and instead appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at every polling station. According to the ECI, the best way to ensure transparency in the voter list is for all parties to participate constructively, as per constitutional provisions and established laws.

Amidst this brewing political tension, a meeting scheduled between the Election Commission and a multi-party opposition delegation was postponed. According to sources, Congress had requested an urgent meeting with the Commission for July 2 to discuss concerns about the special voter list revision in Bihar. The party claimed it was representing the entire INDIA alliance. However, when the Commission sought confirmations from other parties for the meeting, none responded in time, leading to its cancellation.

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has taken a sharp dig at the Election Commission, accusing it of functioning in secrecy. He said, “The Commission has not answered even one of our questions, nor has it held a single press conference.” In his typical style, he added, “They release information through sources. These same sources claimed to have captured Islamabad and Lahore some days ago. Why is the Chief Election Commissioner silent? Why is he behaving like Mr. India?” Tejashwi further claimed that the upcoming Bihar election is a direct battle between the people of the state and the Prime Minister.

The Election Commission’s latest appeal seems aimed at quelling political unrest and restoring procedural faith ahead of the elections. But with leaders like Tejashwi sharpening their attacks and mistrust growing among opposition ranks, the path to Bihar’s polls is already looking politically charged.