All Eyes on Bihar: Election Commission Holds Comprehensive Review in Patna Ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections
CEC Gyanesh Kumar Highlights Political Parties’ Responsibility in Strengthening Democracy Ahead of Bihar Polls
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday underlined that political parties form the backbone of a vibrant democratic system and urged them to play a proactive role in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. His remarks came at the conclusion of a two-day comprehensive review of electoral preparedness carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state capital.
Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, was accompanied by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. Together, the Commission held wide-ranging consultations with national and regional parties and examined in detail the state’s readiness for the polls—covering security, logistics, and voter facilitation measures.
Appeal to Parties for Deeper Involvement
During deliberations with key political organizations—including the BJP, Congress, RJD, JD(U), CPI(M), AAP, BSP, among others—CEC Kumar encouraged parties to nominate polling and counting agents to bolster credibility at every stage of the electoral process.
He stressed that elections should be celebrated as a “festival of democracy” and reminded parties that their active engagement was vital for ensuring public trust. Party representatives, in turn, reiterated their confidence in the Commission’s impartiality and lauded recent reforms aimed at improving electoral transparency.
Inputs from Political Stakeholders
Several parties proposed that the election schedule be finalized only after the Chhath festival, one of the most widely observed occasions in Bihar. They also suggested minimizing the number of phases to ease both administrative and voter convenience.
Among the Commission’s new measures that earned appreciation were:
Limiting the maximum number of voters per booth to 1,200.
Completing postal ballot counting before the final EVM round.
Making it mandatory for Presiding Officers to issue Form 17C to polling agents on-site.
Engagement with State Administration
Following the meeting with party representatives, the Commission held an extensive review with senior civil and police officials, including IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SSPs, and SPs. The agenda focused on:
Efficient handling and security of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Rationalisation and accessibility of polling stations.
Strengthening law and order arrangements.
Adequate training for election staff.
Intensified voter education campaigns.
Tackling misinformation and fake news on digital platforms.
Officials at the district level were instructed to remain absolutely neutral, respond quickly to grievances, and guarantee transparency at every stage of the election process. The Commission also underscored the need for strict vigilance on social media activity to counter disinformation and safeguard electoral integrity.
