A high-level delegation from the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, is in Patna to review preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The ECI met with various political parties, who stressed the importance of a transparent process and offered suggestions on the election schedule.
Timing and Phasing Recommendations
Political parties unanimously suggested holding the elections immediately after the Chhath festival to ensure maximum voter turnout, particularly from migrant workers returning home. Chhath Puja in 2025 is scheduled to end on October 28. The term of the current Bihar Assembly expires on November 22, 2025.
- Single-Phase Demand: The ruling Janata Dal United (JDU), through working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, strongly urged the ECI to hold the voting in a single phase. Jha argued that Bihar’s law and order situation and absence of severe Naxal violence make a single-phase election feasible.
- RJD’s Call: RJD leader and Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, emphasized the need for “fair” elections, stating, “In a democracy, the public is the master.”
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, for his part, directed district election officers to work with “impartiality” and promptly resolve all voter complaints.
SIR Exercise and Electoral Roll Controversy
The recently completed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which saw the final list published on September 30, was a key topic of discussion:
- ECI’s Stance: The ECI reported that political parties “thanked” the poll body for successfully completing the “historic” SIR exercise, which resulted in a final count of approximately 7.42 crore electors. The ECI maintained the exercise was to “purify” the rolls and remove ineligible voters.
- Opposition Criticism: The SIR process remains controversial, with opposition leaders like TMC MP Mahua Moitra and RJD MP Manoj Jha having previously criticized the ECI’s initial directive. Critics argued that excluding commonly held documents like Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards from the list of proofs would disproportionately exclude poor and rural voters. Despite the ECI claiming a successful outcome, the Congress party has continued to allege irregularities in the final list.
- Voter Rationalisation: Parties appreciated the ECI’s move to reduce the maximum number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200.
Election Dates Expected Soon
With the final electoral roll published and the ECI’s ground review completed, the official announcement of the poll schedule is expected imminently. Sources indicate the ECI may announce the dates as early as October 6 or 7.