The conduct of elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana poses a 'daunting challenge' in view of the politico-criminal nexus in the states, the Election Commission said on Saturday.

The commission expressed concern over the free movement of criminal elements threatening to spread fear among voters.

"The nexus between criminals and leaders is providing a daunting challenge in the conduct of election in these states", Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy told a seminar on 'Electoral reforms' in New Delhi.

• Should ministers resign before polls?

"What is worrying me is the impunity with which criminals are moving about in some areas threatening to spread fear in the voters' minds," he said.

Precious lives are lost during polls because of the 'reign of terror' these criminals have created, he added.

It is strange that while in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala elections took place without any major problem in spite of a huge electorate, in some states 'we are unable to conduct one-day poll because of lack of enough security forces to maintain law and order', he said.

Many non-bailable warrants were to be executed in these states, he said.