On October 4, 2025, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, conducted a review of the poll preparedness for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Bihar, in Patna.
The Commission interacted with representatives from national and state political parties, including Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, National People's Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, seeking their suggestions.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar emphasized the role of political parties as significant stakeholders and encouraged their full participation by appointing polling and counting agents. Political Parties requested that the elections be scheduled immediately after the Chhath festival and for the elections to be completed in as few phases as possible. The parties praised initiatives like limiting voters per Polling Station to 1,200, completing Postal Ballot vote counting before the EVM counting’s penultimate round, and ensuring Form 17C distribution by the Presiding Officer (PrO) to party agents.
Following the interaction, the Commission reviewed election planning, EVM management, logistics, polling station infrastructure, staff training, law and order, and voter outreach with Commissioners, IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SSPs, and SPs. Instructions were given to officers based on party suggestions, including impartial action, prompt complaint resolution, and social media monitoring for fake news, with appropriate legal action if needed.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission: The primary regulator and authority overseeing the Assembly Elections in Bihar.
Gyanesh Kumar: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) who led the review of poll preparedness.
Political Parties: Recognized national and state parties involved in the election process and consulted by the Election Commission.
Bihar: The state where the Assembly Elections are forthcoming.
Election Commission
Political Parties significant stakeholder of a strong
democracy: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
EC reviews poll preparedness for forthcoming
Assembly Elections in Bihar
Posted On: 04 OCT 2025 7:18PM by PIB Delhi
1. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr.
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi held a detailed and a comprehensive review of the poll
preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly Elections in Bihar in Patna today.
2. During day one of the two-day review visit, the Commission interacted with the representatives of
recognized national and state political parties namely Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party,
Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, National
People's Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation), Janata Dal (United), Lok
Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party and sought their
suggestions.
3. CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar termed political parties as a significant stakeholder of a strong democracy
and called upon them to fully participate at every stage of the election process by appointing their
polling and counting agents.
4. The Commission encouraged the political parties to whole-heartedly celebrate elections in a festive
spirit along with the voters.
5. The Political Parties thanked the Commission for successfully completing the historic Special Intensive
Revision (SIR) exercise and purifying the electoral rolls and reiterated their faith and trust in the
electoral processes.
6. To maximise the participation of voters in the elections, Political Parties suggested that the elections be
scheduled immediately after the Chhath festival and for the elections to be completed in as few phases
as possible.
7. The Political Parties particularly praised the Commission’s recent initiatives such as limiting the
maximum number of voters per Polling Station to 1,200, ensuring that the counting of Postal Ballot
votes is completed before the penultimate round of EVM counting and ensuring that Form 17C is
distributed by the Presiding Officer (PrO) to the Political Party agents before leaving the Polling Station.
8. All the Political Parties expressed complete faith in the Commission, and in its fulfilment of the
mandate to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
9. Following the interaction with the Political Parties, the Commission held a detailed review with
Commissioners, IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SSPs, SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management,
logistics, polling station rationalisation and infrastructure, training of election staff, seizures, law and
order, voter awareness and outreach activities.
10. The Commission also gave detailed instructions to the officers based on the suggestions given by
Political Parties. The Commission directed all DEOs, SPs, state administration to act with complete
impartiality and ensure prompt resolution of the complaints and grievances of the political parties.
11. All DEOs and SPs were instructed to monitor social media for fake news and to respond swiftly with
appropriate legal action, if required.
*****PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2174847)