Highlights of Election Commission presser on Bihar poll dates

The Election Commission of India Monday announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections, to be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. The polls will determine the fate of 243 assembly seats in the state.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “The Election Commission intends to conduct peaceful, fair, and transparent elections. For this to happen, the Commission expects cooperation from all political parties, voters, and the media.”

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He also highlighted the measures being taken to ensure transparency, including 100% webcasting at polling booths and the counting of postal ballots before the final two rounds of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting.

Key Highlights of the election schedule:
– Phase 1: November 6
– Phase 2: November 11
– Counting of votes: November 14
– Number of Assembly seats: 243
– Reserved seats: 38 for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 2 for Scheduled Tribes (STs)

The ECI has also introduced several new initiatives to ensure a smooth voting process. These include:
– Webcasting:100% webcasting at polling booths to ensure transparency
– Voter ID cards: Color photographs on voter ID cards for easy identification
– Postal ballots: Counting of postal ballots before the final two rounds of EVM counting
– Polling station management: A maximum of 1,200 voters per polling station to reduce congestion and waiting times
– Mobile phone deposit: Facilities for depositing mobile phones outside polling booths to ensure secrecy

The assembly elections in Bihar will be a crucial test for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan. The results will be announced on November 14, determining the fate of various political parties and leaders in the state.

Along with it, bypolls in 8 states will also be held on November 11 and the counting will be held on November 14.