PATNA: The BJP's Bihar unit has constituted a team led by former Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay to provide legal aid and counselling to sitting party MLAs and prospective nominees regarding dos and don'ts to prevent disqualification in the Assembly elections.
"The team will provide all legal help to prospective candidates on how to prevent criminal cases in the run-up to the polls and not to hide information on criminal cases from the Election Commission of India while filing election affidavits. Over the years, maximum disqualification of lawmakers has been due to hiding of criminal cases and lack of awareness of pertinent laws," Sanjay told IANS.
A report by an election watchdog said that 136 MLAs in Bihar allegedly face criminal charges, including those of Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, Janata Dal-United, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The report based on the affidavits submitted ahead of the 2015 Assembly elections said that 11 MLAs were facing charges of murder, 30 of attempt to murder, five of cruelty against women, and one of rape.
"In the run-up to the elections, especially during a pandemic, candidates could end up making mistakes or violating law wittingly or unwittingly, leading to registration of criminal cases. Since rallies or marches during campaigning are common and the ECI guidelines would need to be adhered to amid the pandemic, our team will make sitting MLAs and other candidates aware so that they are not disqualified from filing nomination papers," the BJP leader said.
"The 12-member team stationed in state capital Patna will coordinate with candidates at the district and constituency levels. All of them will be coordinate their work through a WhatsApp group. Answers to their queries and fresh guidelines of the ECI will be updated within the group," Sanjay said.