Patna, Oct 4: With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday began a two-day visit to review the state’s poll preparedness. He is accompanied by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
The CEC arrived in Patna on Friday night and held a series of high-level meetings. His schedule began with an interaction with representatives of recognised national and state political parties at Hotel Taj, Patna. Leaders from the BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress, LJP-RV, RLM, CPI(ML), CPM, CPI, VIP and others attended the meeting, with a maximum of three delegates from each party.
The Commission sought feedback on voter list accuracy, Model Code of Conduct implementation, polling station accessibility, and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) security. Later in the day, Kumar held virtual consultations with Divisional Commissioners, District Election Officers, and senior police officials, focusing on security measures in Naxal-affected districts such as Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Munger, Rohtas, and Kaimur.
Emphasising inclusivity, the Election Commission directed officials to ensure improved facilities for women and persons with disabilities and to finalise detailed security plans.
On Sunday, the poll panel will meet nodal officers of enforcement agencies — including the Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, NCB, Excise, and Customs — to strengthen mechanisms against the misuse of money, liquor, drugs, and other inducements. The team will also confer with the Chief Electoral Officer, CAPF representatives, the Chief Secretary, and the DGP to review logistics, polling personnel deployment, and counting centre security.
A press conference is scheduled for Sunday evening, where the Commission may announce or hint at election dates. Analysts expect polling to be held in multiple phases between October and November 2025, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle across Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats.
