Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be held before November 22, the date when the current Assembly’s term expires.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, he confirmed that Bihar’s 243 constituencies, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs, are being prepared for the upcoming polls. The Election Commission, which recently concluded a two-day review visit to the state, has also completed training booth-level officers for the first time as part of its pre-election readiness.
Seventeen New Measures Introduced For Bihar Polls
The Election Commissioner said it has introduced 17 new measures to ensure smoother conduct of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
“17 new initiatives have been successfully implemented in Bihar; some will be implemented in the conduct of elections, and some in counting,” CEC Kumar said.
EVM Ballot Papers to Feature Colour Photographs for the First Time
CEC Kumar said that among the new initiatives, the Commission has revised guidelines for EVM ballot papers, making candidate names and serial numbers more readable. For the first time, colour photographs of candidates will appear on EVMs, replacing the earlier black-and-white images that often made identification difficult.
“When the ballot paper is inserted into the EVM, the photo on it is black and white, making it difficult to identify, even though the election symbol remains. It was also suggested that the serial number should be larger. So, starting with the Bihar elections, the serial number font will be larger across the country, and the candidates’ photographs will be colour photographs,” he said.
100% Webcasting At Polling Booths
The Election Commissioner further stated that 100% webcasting will be carried out at all polling stations across Bihar to enhance transparency.
Voter List Cleanup: 3.66 Lakh Ineligible Names Removed
CEC Kumar said that the voter list had undergone a major clean-up, with around 3.66 lakh ineligible names removed after verification. He added that voters with objections to the deletions could file appeals with their respective district magistrates, and the revised electoral rolls have already been shared with district-level party representatives.
“Approximately 65 lakh names were deleted earlier, and now 3.66 lakh names have been deleted, which are of ineligible voters… If anyone has any complaint, they can appeal to the District Magistrate. As far as their lists are concerned, you all must have seen them. At the District Collector level, that list has been given to the District Presidents of every political party,” he said.
NDA and Mahagathbandhan Gear Up for High-Stakes Bihar Polls
The Bihar Assembly polls are likely to witness a head-to-head contest between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).