Election Commission To Visit Poll-Bound Bihar For 2 Days On October 4

Discussions will cover administration, security, and logistics before the expected poll schedule announcement. The EC faces challenges due to the festival season and opposition criticism.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners will visit Bihar on October 4-5 to assess election readiness after the release of the revised electoral roll.

Source : PTI

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will be in Bihar on October 4 and 5 to review preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, officials confirmed on Saturday.

The high-level visit comes just days after the publication of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-based final electoral roll, set to be released on September 30. With the current term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ending on November 22, the stage is set for another high-stakes election in the politically crucial state.

According to officials, the Election Commission (EC) team will hold discussions with senior state authorities to assess administrative readiness, security deployment, and logistical arrangements. It is a customary exercise before the formal announcement of election dates.

Announcement Expected Soon

Political circles are abuzz with speculation that the EC could announce the poll schedule soon after the team returns to Delhi. Based on previous trends, the elections are expected to be conducted in three to four phases, though the final decision will depend on security concerns and logistical planning.

The challenge for the Commission is compounded by the upcoming festival season. With Diwali and Chhath falling around the same time, officials will need to carefully plan voting days to ensure minimal disruption for voters.

Opposition Criticism Over Voter List

The Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll—being carried out in Bihar after more than two decades—has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties. They allege the process could disenfranchise millions of genuine voters. The EC, however, has dismissed these concerns, saying the exercise is aimed at enhancing accuracy and transparency in the voter list.