Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday that the Bihar Assembly elections will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes will occur on November 14, concluding the entire election process by November 16.
Kumar described the upcoming electoral exercise as the “mother of all elections”, noting the crucial need for transparency and orderly conduct across all constituencies. His remarks resonate with the significance of these elections in shaping Bihar’s political landscape.
The Election Commission’s schedule specifies that on November 6, voters will cast their ballots in 121 Assembly constituencies. Subsequently, the second phase scheduled for November 11 will involve 122 constituencies.
“It is mandatory to complete counting of postal ballots before the last two rounds of counting of votes,” declared the Chief Election Commissioner, underlining the importance of efficiency and adherence to protocol.
For the first phase, the critical timeline includes October 17 as the last date for filing nominations. Following this, scrutiny of these nominations will occur on October 18, with October 20 set as the last date for withdrawal of candidatures.
The second phase parallels this schedule, starting with October 20 for the last date to file nominations. The scrutiny of nominations in this phase will take place on October 21, and candidates may withdraw until October 23.
It is important to note that the term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, prompting the necessity for these elections. Bihar boasts a total of 243 Assembly constituencies, which includes two reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 38 reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).
The significance of these elections cannot be understated as they represent the electorate’s crucial opportunity to voice their political preferences and ensure accountability from their representatives. Political parties and candidates will gear up for a competitive campaign leading to these important dates.
