Bihar Election Preparations: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Confirms Voter List Revision and Introduces Colored EVM Ballots

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was in Patna to review Bihar election preparations

Revision of voter lists is necessary before each election, and conducting a review after polls would not align with legal requirements, stated Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar today, responding to Opposition criticism regarding the Special Intensive Revision in election-bound Bihar.

The Election Commission chief, who visited Patna for two days to evaluate preparations for the upcoming elections, addressed media representatives before departing for Delhi.

Beginning his statement in Bhojpuri, Kumar highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar had resulted in the purification of the state's electoral roll for the first time in 22 years.

"We extend our congratulations to India's voters. We appreciate everyone's participation in the successful SIR process. I encourage all Bihar voters to celebrate this democratic festival with the same enthusiasm shown during Chhath. Everyone should exercise their voting rights and ensure participation," he stated.

The Chief Election Commissioner confirmed that the Assembly election for all 243 Bihar seats would be completed before November 22, when the current Assembly's term concludes.

He mentioned that each polling station would accommodate a maximum of 1,200 voters and specified that voters would not be permitted to bring mobile phones into polling booths.

The election chief announced an important procedural change: "The EVM ballot papers are currently black and white, making identification difficult. Therefore, beginning with the Bihar elections, the serial number font and candidate photographs will appear in color."

When NDTV inquired about the ongoing burqa controversy following state BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal's demand for verification of burqa-clad women at polling stations, the Election Commissioner responded that voter identification and polling would proceed according to established protocols.

The Chief Election Commissioner also addressed questions regarding Aadhaar, emphasizing that while the Election Commission accepted Aadhaar during voter roll revisions in compliance with a Supreme Court order, the document does not establish citizenship. "According to the Aadhaar Act, Aadhaar serves as proof of identity, not citizenship," he clarified, citing the relevant legislation.