New Delhi: The Bihar election dates have been announced by the Election Commission on Friday. This is the first major state election to be held in the middle of the worldwide coronavirus crisis.
During the presser, EC Sunil Arora said," Polling for the first phase to be held on October 28. Counting for all phases on Nov 10. Second phase polling on November 3. The third phase of polling on November 7."
Arora said, "Polling to be conducted in 3 phases. In the first phase, elections will be held in 71 Assembly constituencies. In the second phase, 94 Assembly constituencies will go to polls. In the third phase, polling will be held in 78 Assembly constituencies."
"The term of assembly in the state of Bihar is due to expire on 29th November 2020. Bihar assembly has a strength of 243 members, of whom 38 seats are reserved for SCs and two for STs," said Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.
He said the world has changed significantly since the last elections which were held for Delhi assembly and the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a new normal in every aspect of our life.
He said the voting time will be extended by one hour and votes could be cast from 7 am till 6 pm, except for in the Left Wing Extremism-affect areas.
COVID-19 patients can vote in the last hour of the day, Arora said. He also said special protocols have been readied for voters who are COVID-positive patients.
The EC said 7 lakh hand sanitizer, 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh face shields and 23 lakh pairs of hand gloves have been arranged for Bihar polls.
Besides, the postal ballot facility will be provided wherever required and requested. Social distancing norms will need to be followed at public gatherings during the poll campaign.
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Arora further said anyone using social media for mischievous purposes, such as for flaring communal tension, during elections will have to face consequences, while hate speech will be also dealt with harshly by the Election Commission.
He said the number of phases for 243-member Bihar assembly polls has been reduced keeping in mind security arrangements and festive season, among other factors.
Voting for the first phase on October 28 will cover 71 assembly constituencies, while the second-phase voting on November 3 will cover 94 seats. The third phase of voting on November 7 will cover 78 assembly seats.
Counting of votes for all seats will take place on November 10.
In 2015, the Election Commission had on September 9 announced the dates for Bihar Assembly elections.
Voting was held over five phases from October 12 to November 5 and the results were declared on November 8. This will be the first time that candidates will be allowed to file their nominations online, a move that has been fast-tracked owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The commission said that every person shall wear a face mask during every election-related activity.
The ECI had previously framed guidelines for the conduct of general elections/by-elections during COVID-19 outbreak.
Along with the announcement of Bihar elections dates, the EC may also announce dates for by-poll on 1 Lok Sabha seat and 64 assembly seats.
BJP will be contesting elections on the policies of Nitish Kumar following which NDA workers are receiving commands from him to work on the ground level.
(With inputs from agencies)
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