Bihar: JD(U) postpones August 7 virtual rally due to Covid-19 pandemic and floods

PATNA: In a sudden turn of events, JD(U) on Friday announced to postpone its proposed virtual rally to be addressed by CM and party's national president Nitish Kumar on August 7. Kumar was supposed to sound the bugle for the state assembly polls due for October-November at the rally.
In a statement, JD(U) state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh said the rally has been put off for the time being in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and floods.The fresh date of the virtual rally would be decided in due course of time, the statement said.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also cited similar reasons for postponing the proposed virtual rally scheduled to be addressed by Nitish Kumar. “The prevailing situation out of Covid19 pandemic and floods is not conducive for the rally. That's why it was decided to postpone the rally,” he said.
He, however, admitted that the preparations for the rally were complete. A host of senior leaders of the party, including MPs, MLAs, ministers and functionaries addressed grassroot-level workers of the party spread over in 243 assembly constituencies between July 18 and July 30. Separate teams were set up for the purpose, he said.
The virtual rallies addressed by senior leaders of the two ruling alliance partners--JD(U) and BJP--have received flak from main opposition parties--RJD and the Congress. In a statement, Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, “Wisdom finally prevailed on some senior leaders of JD(U) who decided to postpone the virtual rally.”
Mishra categorically said that the state was reeling under coronavirus and floods but leaders of JD(U) and BJP were busy in holding virtual rallies in the run-up to the assembly polls. “It's time to save people from conoravirus and floods and not to address rallies through video conferencing,” he added.
The Congress leader hoped that the Election Commission would sooner or later realise the situation prevailing in the state due to surge in Covid19 positive cases and major parts of the state hit by floods. “We are not in favour of conducting elections putting the lives of electors, polling personnel, security forces, contestants and political party leaders at risk. The elections should be extended for six months as per the provisions in the Indian Constitution,” the Congress MLC told this newspaper.
The RJD also reacted on the issue on expected lines. RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said, “Der aaye durust aaye. It's not the proper time to address a virtual rally for the election. It's time to focus wholeheartedly on extending help to the people hit by coronavirus and floods.”
Both the Grand Alliance partners in the state have been insisting that either the assembly polls be deferred or the traditional mode of electioneering be allowed to woo the electors. They have vehemently opposed digital electioneering in the upcoming assembly polls.