Hours after a UPA delegation submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission here, seeking a change in dates for the Bihar elections, CEC B B Tandon said in Patna that the elections would proceed on schedule. The UPA team, which visited Nirvachan Sadan, was led by RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and senior Congress leader Divijay Singh. In the memorandum, the UPA requested that the polls be held on one day or spread over two days, as this would maximise voter turnout. The memorandum was also signed by CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury and NCP’s Tariq Anwar. “We would request the commission to kindly reconsider the dates in the interest of free and fair elections and for maximum voter turnout,’’ Laloo said. However, Tandon—after reviewing poll preparations in Patna—said, ‘‘There would be no revision of the election schedule as we had announced it after giving due consideration to religious festivals and other aspects.’’ He said it was mandatory for the EC to complete the election process within six months of the dissolution of the House and the deadline expires on November 22. The UPA team told the EC that the dates fall in the months of Dussehra and Ramzan—when Muslims observe fast and therefore it would be difficult for them to vote. Biswas out PATNA: After getting the go ahead from the Election Commission, Bihar Home Commissioner A K Biswas was replaced on Wednesday. His post will be taken over by Forest and Environment Secretary H C Sirohi. Earlier, Chief Secretary G S Kang had alleged that he had been bypassed by Biswas over the transfers.
