The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, conducted a comprehensive review of the election preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections in Patna. The Election Commission team’s visit to the state spanned two days and focused on ensuring all aspects of the electoral process were ready. The Election Commission interacted with representatives from various recognized national and state political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Indian National Congress, among others, to gather suggestions and feedback. CEC Kumar emphasized the importance of political parties as key stakeholders in a strong democracy, urging their full participation throughout the election process, including appointing polling and counting agents. The Commission also encouraged parties to foster a festive atmosphere during the elections. Parties appreciated the Commission’s efforts, such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, and expressed confidence in the electoral procedures. Political parties suggested holding the elections immediately after the Chhath festival and completing them in as few phases as possible. The Commission highlighted initiatives such as limiting voters per polling station and ensuring postal ballot vote counting before EVM counting. Following the interaction with political parties, the Commission held a detailed review with officials on election planning, EVM management, and other critical areas. The Commission instructed officials to act impartially and address complaints from political parties promptly, including monitoring social media for misinformation and taking appropriate action. The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates for the Bihar Assembly elections, where the NDA and Mahagathbandhan are expected to be the main contenders. The NDA currently holds 131 seats, and the Mahagathbandhan holds 111 seats in the 243-member assembly.
