New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Bihar will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11 to elect the 243 member state legislative assembly, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said today.
Counting of votes will take place on November 14, the Chief Election Commissioner announced at a press conference here. Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and other officials were also at the press conference.
In the first phase, elections will be held in 121 assembly constituencies, while the second phase will cover 122 constituencies.
The Gazette notification for the first phase will be issued on October 10 and the last date for filing nominations will be October 17. Nominations will be scrutinised on October 18 and candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 20.
For the second phase, the Gazette notification will be issued on October 13, with October 20 as the last date for filing nominations. The scrutiny of nomination will take place on October 21, while the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is October 23.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across the state.
For the conduct of free and fair elections in Bihar, Gyanesh Kumar said directions have been issued to District Magistrates, police authorities and enforcement agencies to ensure “zero tolerance” against any violence”. There will be no scope for any kind of intimidation or threat to voters and candidates.
He said the Special Intensive Revision was carried out for the purification of electoral roll in Bihar to ensure no eligible elector was left out and no ineligible person was included. He thanked the people for actively participating in this process.
He said that for the first time there will be one general observer for each constituency who will act as the eyes and ears of the Election Commission.
The ECI had revised guidelines to make EVM ballot papers more readable. Starting Bihar, EVMs will have colour photographs of candidates for the first time.
Gyanesh Kumar said there will be 100 percent webcasting at polling stations to ensure that activities take place smoothly without any violation of the poll process.
The Bihar election will also see polling station limit of 1,200 voters so as to reduce crowding, shorter queues and additional booths in high-rise residential complexes and societies.
The Election Commission has also made arrangements of mobile deposit facility at polling stations.
A total of 90,712 polling stations will be set up in the state including 1,044 managed by women and 38 by youth. About 7.43 electors are eligible to vote out of which approximately 3.92 crore are male while 3.50 are female.
Moreover, the electors also include about 14,000 centenarians and 4.04 cr very senior citizens with the age of 85 plus.
For the convenience of voters, assured minimum facilities have been made available including poll volunteers, ramps, drinking water, toilets and signage. For the benefit of People with Disabilities, polling stations will be on the ground floor with volunteers and wheelchair facility.
