Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the BJP on Saturday urged the Election Commission that women wearing burqas should have their identities thoroughly verified against voter ID photographs at polling stations.

The request has sparked criticism from the party’s main rival, the RJD, which accused the BJP of trying to push a “political conspiracy.”

Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal, after a meeting with the visiting poll panel team led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, said, “Tallying of faces of voters, especially burqa-clad women, must be ensured with respective EPIC cards so that only genuine voters get to exercise their franchise.”

The issue of female voters wearing veils drew sharp criticism from the leaders of the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party.

Abhay Kushwaha, RJD Lok Sabh

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