Umpire is now compromised: Congress leader Manickam Tagore criticises EC ahead of Bihar polls

The Election Commission of India, which is supposed to be the umpire conducting free and fair elections has been compromised and is working like an organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Manickam Tagore said on Monday.

The Congress leader further said that he is confident in the INDIA bloc parties forming the government after the elections, that is, "if a fair election happens".

"We all know that the Election Commission of India has lost its credibility. They have started to work like the BJP's organisation itself. Today is 6th of October, and the elections are going to be announced as per the media reports", Tagore told ANI.


"INDIA alliance is very confident that if a fair election happens, if the election commission is fair, we are going to form the government in Bihar", he added.

Criticising the timing of various schemes and initiative unveiled by the Prime Minister and Bihar government, Tagore said that the NDA has not done anything for the youth or women for the last 2 decades but it announcing schemes in wake of the polls.

"Two days ago, the Prime Minister announced a scheme for the youth of Bihar. For 20 years, they have done nothing for the youth of Bihar and the unemployed. And on October 2nd, they announced Rs 10,000 for women. The Election Commission is the umpire, but the umpire is now compromised. And we had seen it in the SIR issue", he said.

The Election Commission of India is set to hold a press conference at 4 PM on Monday, where it is likely to announce the schedule for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

A day earlier, in a press conference in Patna, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that elections in Bihar will be held before November 22, when the term of the State Assembly ends.

Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs.

The NDA currently holds 131 seats -- BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents -- while the Mahagathbandhan holds 111 seats, comprising RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2.

Political activity has intensified across the State, with parties trading charges and ramping up campaigns ahead of the high-stakes election.