New Delhi: The assembly election in Bihar will be held in three phases on October 28, November 3 and 7 and the results will be announced on November 10, the Election Commission said today.
This is the first major election to be held in the middle of the worldwide coronavirus crisis. Bihar has to elect a new 243-member assembly by November 29.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora called it a "historic election" and the world's biggest in the time of the coronavirus. There will be an extra voting hour, separate voting for Covid patients, suspects and those in quarantine, and no physical contact during the campaign, he announced.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads a coalition with the BJP, will fight for a fourth term in these polls, with the opposition RJD of jailed former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav and the Congress challenging him.
Here are the Live updates on Bihar Assembly Election dates' announcement:
Sep 25, 2020 23:24 (IST)
"Bihar Polls To Write New Story Of State's Betterment": Chirag Paswan
The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which had urged the EC to not hold Bihar assembly elections during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday welcomed the announcement of its schedule, saying the polls will write a "new story" of betterment in the state.
LJP president Chirag Paswan said the state elections will provide the party a chance to present Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s dream of a "developed Bihar" and its patron Ram Vilas Paswan''s work in the state for five decades before the people.
In his tweets, he also struck an emotional note, saying that his father remains in hospital and he misses his words of guidance.
Chirag Paswan said that for the first time in the last five decades, his father will not be present in Bihar during the elections and expressed confidence that he will be able to connect with the people of the state digitally.
Sep 25, 2020 17:52 (IST)
BJP, NDA fully prepared for Bihar elections: Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are fully prepared for the upcoming state elections which will be held in three phases with polling starting on October 28.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the votes will be appealed for on the basis of the work done by the central and state governments.
"BJP and NDA are fully prepared. Those who wanted to postpone elections are being forced to welcome. PM-CM will appeal to vote on the basis of face and work of Center and State. #BiharElections2020," he said in a tweet.
Sep 25, 2020 13:05 (IST)
The model code of conduct comes into immediate effect in Bihar.
Sep 25, 2020 12:58 (IST)
Covid patients who are quarantined will be able to cast their vote on the last day of poll, at their respective polling stations, under the supervision of health authorities. This is beside the option of postal facility already extended to them: CEC Sunil Arora
Sep 25, 2020 12:49 (IST)
For Bihar polls, the voting hours have been increased by an hour. So, voting will happen from 7 am to 6 pm, instead of the usual 5 pm: Chief Election Commissioner