Six phase polling in Bihar from October 21

New Delhi: The Central Election Commission, on Monday, announced the schedule for Bihar Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi said the six-phase Bihar polls will start from October 21 and will have polling for 47 seats.

The dates for next phases are: October 24, October 28, November 1, November 9 and November 20.

Counting for the 243 seats Assembly seats will be held on November 24.

Polling will be held in 56,943 polling stations spread across the state in which over 5.50 crore electorate are expected to exercise their franchise. (Watch: We want fair polls in Bihar, says BJP)

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The bypolls for Banka Lok Sabha seat, which became vacant following the death of sitting MP Digvijay Singh, will be held on November one. (Watch: Congress welcomes announcement of Bihar poll dates)

The term of the 243-member Assembly will end on November 27. This will be the first election after Qureshi took over as the Chief Election Commissioner on July 30.

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The election is expected to be a triangular affair with the ruling JD(U)-BJP continuing their poll alliance and Lalu Prasad's RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP joining hands to oust it from power. The Congress has announced that it would go alone in the State, unlike in the past when it played second fiddle to RJD.

RJD and LJP overcame last-minute hiccups and clinched an alliance and decided to contest 168 and 75 seats respectively.

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The model code of conduct has been put in place from immediate effect.

Earlier on Monday, after a hostage crisis ended with Naxals in the state releasing three kidnapped policemen, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Central forces must be sent to help guard all polling stations. He also asked the Naxals to contest the elections. (With PTI inputs)