Discussions were successfully held between the Election Commission of India and all recognised political parties in Bihar. The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, and Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjyal.
During the interaction, the Commission underscored that political parties are the cornerstone of democracy and urged all participants to ensure their involvement at every stage of the electoral process to guarantee transparency.
The EC appealed to voters to celebrate the election as a festival with harmony and respect, further requesting that political parties nominate polling agents at every polling booth. In turn, the parties conveyed their gratitude to the EC for taking "historic, transparent, and firm" measures to purify the electoral rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), reiterating their complete commitment and faith in the process. They also thanked the Commission for setting a maximum limit of 1,200 voters per polling station and appreciated recent reforms regarding the counting of postal ballots and the use of Form 17C.
Crucially, representatives from various political parties demanded that the Assembly elections be conducted immediately following the Chhath festival to ensure maximum voter participation. They also suggested that the polls be held in as few phases as possible.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said that the party had urged the EC to conduct the Bihar assembly polls in a single phase, citing the state's improved law and order situation.
"Law and order in Bihar is in good condition. If elections can be conducted in one phase in Maharashtra, then why not in Bihar?" asked Jha.
He added that Bihar would "show the country the way SIR is done."
All political parties restored their complete trust in the Election Commission. They expressed confidence that the ensuing Bihar elections would be conducted in a free, fair, and fully transparent manner. The EC is expected to announce the dates for the Bihar Assembly polls imminently.
Also read: PM Modi hits out at Congress-RJD over Bihar’s education crisis
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