Why have the elections in Bihar spread over so many weeks? What purpose does it serve? If the idea is that forces can be moved from one area to another to ensure peace, it also means the strong armed persons of the political parties can also move from one region to another. This poses more danger to peace than one day poll or at the most two days poll would do. This staggered poll was introduced to help the parties who were dependent on the canvassing by only one leader But it does not sit well with the traditions of democracy. It unnecessarily paralysis the administration for months on end since the election code is in force and no new projects can be started. The whole bureaucracy is kept busy for elections and all regulatory and development work suffers.
- kewal sethi