CEC-Led Election Commission Delegation Reviews Bihar Poll Preparedness, Holds All-Party Meet In Patna

A high-level Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, reached Patna on Friday (3 October) to assess preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, reported The Times Of India.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi accompanied the CEC during the visit.

The ECI team held an all-party meeting at Taj Hotel, Patna, with representatives from all 12 recognised political parties.

The meeting, chaired by CEC Kumar, aimed to review ground-level readiness and address concerns related to the election process.

Confirming the visit on X, the ECI posted, “ECI delegation led by CEC Ganesh Kumar and ECs Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi arrives in Patna today to review poll preparedness for forthcoming Bihar Assembly Elections.”

Before the Bihar visit, the Commission conducted a detailed orientation in New Delhi for Central Observers assigned to the Assembly polls and select bye-elections.

A total of 425 officers, including 287 IAS, 58 IPS, and 80 from IRS, IRAS, ICAS, and other services, participated in the session held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).

Addressing the officers, Kumar described the observers as “beacons of democracy,” emphasising that they act as the Commission’s “eyes and ears” to ensure impartial enforcement of election laws, rules, and guidelines.

He instructed them to stay accessible to parties, candidates, and voters, and to monitor voter-friendly measures at polling stations.

Appointed under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, these observers play a vital role in maintaining transparency and fairness in elections.

The ECI is expected to announce Bihar’s poll dates around 6 October.

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