Chief Election Commissioner Reviews Bihar Election Preparedness During Two-Day Visit

Chief Election Commissioner arrived in Patna on Friday evening and has commenced a series of high-level meetings.

Patna:

As Bihar Assembly elections approach, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has begun his two-day assessment visit to the state on Saturday to evaluate election preparations. Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh and Dr. Vivek Joshi are accompanying him on this crucial tour.

The CEC arrived in Patna Friday night and has initiated multiple high-level consultations with stakeholders.

His Saturday schedule begins with meeting representatives from all recognized national and state political parties at Hotel Taj in Patna.

The Election Commission expects delegations from BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress, LJP-RV, RLM, CPI(ML), CPM, CPI, VIP and other parties, with participation limited to three representatives per organization.

During these meetings, the Commission will gather input on critical issues including voter list discrepancies, Model Code of Conduct implementation, polling station facilities, and electronic voting machine security measures.

Later in the day, Kumar will hold video conferences with Divisional Commissioners, district election officials, and senior police leadership across the state.

The review will particularly emphasize Naxal-affected districts such as Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Munger, Rohtas, and Kaimur, where security logistics present significant challenges.

The Election Commission is prioritizing enhanced facilities for women and disabled voters and has directed police authorities to develop comprehensive security protocols.

Sunday's agenda includes meetings with nodal officers from enforcement agencies, including the Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, NCB, Excise, and Customs, to strategize against illegal inducements like money, liquor, and drugs during the electoral process.

The delegation will also confer with Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer, CAPF representatives, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police to assess logistics, law and order preparations, polling personnel deployment plans, and counting center security arrangements.

A press conference scheduled for Sunday evening may include the announcement of election dates or at least provide a timeline indication.

Political analysts anticipate a multi-phase election process between October and November 2025, similar to previous Assembly elections in the state.

With the final voter list published on September 30 following an intensive two-month revision process, Bihar now awaits the official announcement of polling dates.

Political activities are intensifying as the ruling NDA highlights its welfare initiatives, while Opposition parties focus their criticism on issues like unemployment, inflation, deteriorating law and order, and corruption allegations.

Experts suggest that once the election schedule is declared, Bihar's political climate will heat up significantly, setting the stage for a highly contested electoral battle across all 243 Assembly constituencies.