Parties Urge Election Commission To Hold Bihar Elections Soon After Chhath – Delhi News Daily

With two major festivals, Diwali and Chhath, falling between October 20 and 30, the elections are likely to be scheduled in the first two weeks of November. (PTI)

Political parties in Bihar on Saturday unanimously urged the Election Commission to schedule the upcoming Assembly elections soon after the Chhath festival and in the minimum number of phases possible.

The parties put forth their demand during the poll body’s first of the two-day review visit to the state for the upcoming elections. The parties said that polls immediately after Chhath would be convenient for voters and candidates. They also said a smaller number of phases would reduce the burden of prolonged campaigns.

Chhat, an important festival in Bihar that is celebrated six days after Diwali, will fall on October 25-28 this year. During Diwali and Chhat, people employed outside Bihar return home for festivities, and it is believed that it is the best time to hold polls to ensure greater voter participation.

During its first day of the review meet, the Commission held detailed interactions with representatives of major national and regional parties, including the BJP, Congress, JD(U), RJD, LJP (Ramvilas), AAP, BSP, CPI(M), and others.

During the key interaction, the poll body termed political parties as the “foundation of democracy” and emphasised the importance of their full participation throughout the electoral process. It also encouraged the parties to appoint polling and counting agents to ensure transparency and to celebrate elections in a “festive spirit” alongside voters.

The parties’ representatives unanimously thanked the Commission for its recent initiatives, particularly the successful completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They also lauded measures such as limiting the number of voters per polling station to 1,200, prioritising postal ballot counting before the penultimate round of EVM results, and mandating the distribution of Form 17C to party agents before the presiding officer leaves the polling station.

Reiterating their faith in the Commission’s mandate to deliver free, fair, and transparent elections, party leaders welcomed the consultative approach of the ECI.

The poll body will on Sunday meet with state election officials, enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders as part of its comprehensive poll preparedness review.

The term of the 243-member Bihar assembly ends on November 22. The first phase of elections is likely to be held at the end of October, soon after Chhat.