Bihar to have 3-phase Elections on Oct 28, Nov 3 & Nov 7

TNI Bureau:  The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the dates for assembly elections in Bihar. There will be a three-phase election for the 243-member House. It would be the first ever poll during Corona Pandemic.

The elections will be held on October 28, November 3 and November 7. Counting of votes will be held on November 10.

? In the first phase, 71 assembly seats across 16 districts will go to polls on October 28. Issue of Notification will be 1st October. Last date of nomination will be 8th October. Withdrawal of nomination will be 12th October.

? In the second phase, 94 assembly seats across 17 districts will go to polls on November 3. Issue of Notification will be 9th October. Last date of nomination will be 16th October. Withdrawal of nomination will be 19th October.

? In the third phase, 78 assembly seats across 15 districts will go to polls on November 7. Issue of Notification will be 13th October. Last date of nomination will be 20th October. Withdrawal of nomination will be 23rd October.

? Over 7 lakh hand sanitiser units, about 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh units of faces-shields, 23 lakh (pairs of) hand gloves have been arranged for Bihar Elections.

? For voters, 7.2 crore single-use hand gloves have been arranged.

? Polling hours have been extended by one hour. It would be held from 7 AM to 6 PM. However, this will not be applicable to Maoist affected areas.

? Citizens about 80 years of age, can cast their votes by postal ballot.

? COVID-19 patients who are quarantined will be able to cast their vote on the last day of poll, at their respective polling stations, under the supervision of health authorities. They will also have the option of postal ballot.

? A maximum of 1000 people can vote at a polling station.

As per the constitutional provisions, Bihar has to elect a new 243-member assembly by November 29.

The main battle in Bihar will be between NDA (that includes JD(U), BJP, LJP and HAM) and the RJD-Congress Alliance.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has sought to challenge Nitish Kumar as his father Lalu Yadav has been jailed.

Interestingly, the Mahagathbandhan, which had won the Bihar Elections in 2015, was the alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress. However, Nitish later dumped RJD in 2017 and embraced the BJP.

Bihar ElectionsBihar PollsChief Election CommissionerElection Commission of IndiaSunil Arora