Bengaluru: Expressing strong reservation over holding Bihar polls and by-election to 54 Assembly segments in various states amid the COVID-19 pandemic, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said the world would not have ended if the process was postponed.
He warned the Election Commission, Central and the state governments that they were playing with the lives of the common people, as it was difficult to maintain COVID-19 protocol like social distancing during the poll process and campaigning.
Karnataka's Sira and Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly segments are also going for by-polls on November 3.
"... in my opinion, if the Election Commission, Central government and the state government had the common sense, holding legislative council polls, the by-election to 54 Assembly constituencies and elections to Bihar Assembly now, was not necessary.. do you think it will be possible to hold elections?" Kumaraswamy asked.
Seeking to know how social distancing would be ensured during the campaign, the former Chief Minister told reporters here that politicians were playing with their own lives.
He pointed out that he had developed a high fever after his recent visit to Sira constituency, and is now getting back to start the campaign work after recovery.
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"the world would not have ended if the election was postponed for three months? In Bihar President's rule could have been imposed for six months or by having the caretaker government," he said.
Noting that by holding elections at such a time we are playing with the lives of the people, Kumaraswamy said, no one is understanding.
"... we will have to go to villages when we go there, people surround us, will all of them be wearing masks? They will not know things... leave us (politicians) aside, who will give protection to common people, if something happens?" he asked.