"Fully prepared for all 243 seats," says LJP (RV) MP Arun Bharti on upcoming Bihar Assembly elections

He added that they aim to win every seat they contest and will also support their allies to win where the LJP(RV) does not field candidates.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Arun Bhati said, "LJP(RV) is fully prepared for all 243 seats for the Bihar Vidhan Sabha elections. Wherever we contest, we will do so strongly. Wherever we don't contest, but our allies do, we will make every effort to help them win. We would want our strike rate to be 100 per cent and the same for our allies. In 2005, 29 of our MLAs won. In the upcoming Bihar elections, I am confident that we will cross this number of 29."

Bharti said that the Election Commission has full authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

He said the opposition's criticism is unnecessary and added that steps to prevent fake voting and protect the rights of real voters should be welcomed.

"Election Commission is an autonomous body. Congress, too, made SIR take place from time to time. The voices of opposition rising right now were not needed at all, I think. This is the prerogative of the Election Commission. Only the Election Commission decides when it wants to do this. If fake voting is taking place in the name of voters who died, or if voters are coming from outside to snatch away the rights of real voters, it should be welcomed if it is being done away with," Bharti said.

The Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet announced the exact dates.

While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seeks to retain power, the INDIA bloc, comprising the RJD and Congress, aims to oust it. Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, is also seeking the people's mandate. (ANI)