Bihar Assembly Elections
The election commission of India sounded the election bugle of the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls on Friday. The election will take place in three phases: October 28, November 3, and November 7, while November 10 would be the day of judgment of all the political parties as well as candidates.
The term of the 243-member Bihar legislative assembly is going to end on November 29.
First election during COVID-19
It would be the first election to take place amid the COVID-19 crisis. Apart from this, the Election Commission has decided to extend the postal ballot facility for over 85 years' people.
Historic election: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora called it a "historic election" and the world's biggest, in the time of the coronavirus.
Bihar election in three phases
The upcoming election in Bihar would be in a three-phase first phase of polls that will cover 71 seats, while the election of the second phase will take place in 94 constituencies in 17 districts, and in the third and last phase, people will vote in the remaining 69 constituencies.
Challenge for Nitish
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JDU will fight with the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls. However, RJD and the grand old party Congress are ready to give a stiff challenge to Nitish and his allies.
Parties welcome dates
Meanwhile, JD(U), BJP, RJD, and other parties have welcomed the announcement of the Bihar assembly poll schedule. RJD leader and son of jailed former CM Laloo Prasad, Tejashwi Prasad asserted that people of the state have already made up their mind for a change of government in Bihar.
Special guidelines
The Election Commission is ready to take all precautionary measures of the health of the people as COVID-19 cases are increasing in Bihar. "We hope the voter turnout will be more than the previous elections," CEC Arora says. He further added that the period of conduct of elections has been shortened and the number of phases has been reduced.
Increase in voting hours
In the forthcoming Bihar polls, the Election Commission has increased the voting hours, and a separate voting facility will be provided for COVID patients, suspects, and those in quarantine. Every polling station will have the facilities of the mask, gloves, soaps, and sanitizers.
Polling booths on ground floor
All the polling booths would be on the ground floor. All the priorities will be given to wheel-chair people as well as persons with disabilities so that they can cast their votes easily.
Model code of conduct
The model code of conduct has started with immediate effect.
Bye elections
The Election Commission is set to conduct bye-elections in 64 constituencies spread across 15 States. The 27-seat election will take place in Madhya Pradesh.
Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Dates
| Poll Event | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue of Notification | 1. October 2020 | 9. October 2020 | 13. October 2020 |
| Last Date of Nominations | 8. October 2020 | 16. October 2020 | 20. October 2020 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | 9. October 2020 | 17. October 2020 | 21. October 2020 |
| Last date for withdrawal of candidatures | 12. October 2020 | 19. October 2020 | 23. October 2020 |
| Date of Polling | 28. October 2020 | 3. November 2020 | 7. November 2020 |
| Counting of Votes | 10. November 2020 | 10. November 2020 | 10. November 2020 |
Assembly Constituencies in Bihar |