Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 25, 2020, announced the schedule for 2020 General Elections to State Legislative Assembly of Bihar. The polls to 243 seat of Bihar Assembly will be held in three-phases on October 28, 2020, November 3, 2020, and November 7, 2020. This is the first major election to be held in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic.
The notification regarding first phase of polls covering 71 assembly constituencies (ACs) will be issued on October 1, 2020, for second phase covering 94 ACs on October 9, 2020, and for third phase covering 78 ACs on October 13, 2020. The last date for filing nominations for first phase polls is October 8, 2020, for second phase October 16, 2020, and for third phase October 20, 2020. The poll results will be announced on November 10, 2020. The polls will be held at 1,06,526 polling stations, an increase of 62.96% overs polling stations in 2015. There were 65,367 polling stations in 2015.
The 71 ACs going to polls in Phase 1 are :Kahalgaon, Sultanganj, Amarpur, Dhoraiya (SC), Banka, Katoria (ST), Belhar, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, Suryagarha, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Barbigha, Mokama, Barh, Masaurhi (SC), Paliganj, Bikram, Sandesh, Sandesh, Barhara, Ara, Agiaon (SC), Tarari, Jagdishpur, Shahpur, Brahmpur, Buxar, Dumraon, Rajpur (SC), Ramgarh, Mohania (SC), Bhabhua, Chainpur, Chenari (SC), Sasaram, Kargahar, Dinara, Nokha, Dehri, Karakat, Arwal, Kutha, Jehanabad, Makhdumpur (SC), Goh, Obra, Nabinagar, Kutumba (SC), Aurangabad, Rafiganj, Gurua, Sherghati, Imamganj (SC), Barachatti (SC), Bodh Gaya (SC), Gaya Town, Tikari, Belaganj, Atri, Wazirganj, Sikandra (SC), Jamui, Jhajha, and Chakai.
The 94 ACs going to polls in 2nd phase are : Nautan, Chanpatia, Bettiah, Harsidhi (SC), Govindganj (SC), Kesaria, Kalyanpur, Pipra, Madhuban, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Runnisairpur, Belsand, Madhubani, Rajnagar (SC), Jhanjharpur, Phulparas, Kusheshehwar Ashtahn (SC), Gaura Bauram, Benipur, Alinagar, Darbhanga Rural, Minapur, Kanti, Baruraj, Paroo, Sahebganj, Baikunthpur, Barauli, Gopalganj, Kuchaikote, Bhore (SC), Hathua, Siwan, Ziradei, Darauli (SC), Raghunathpur, Daraunda, Barharia, Goriakothi, Maharajganj, Ekma, Manjhi, baniapur, Taraiya, Marhaura, Chhapra, Garkha (SC), Amnour, Parsa, Sonepur, Hajipur, Lalganj, Vaishali, Raja Pakar (SC), Raghopur, Mahnar, Ujiarpur, Mohiuddinnagar, Bibhutipur, Rosera (SC), Hasanpur, Cheria-Bariarpur, Bachhwara, Teghra, Matihani, Sahebpur Kamal, Begusarai, Bakhri (SC), Alauli (SC), Khagaria, Beldaur, Parbatta, Bihpur, Gopalpur, Pirpainti (SC), Bhagalpur, Nathnagar, Ashthawan, Biharsharif, Rajgir (SC), Islampur, Hilsa, Nalanda, Harnaut, Bakhtiarpur, Digha, Bankipur, Kumhrar, Patna Sahib, Fatuha, Danapur, maner, Phulwari (SC).
The 71 ACs going to polls in 3rd phase are : Valmikinagar, Ramnagar (SC ), Narkatiaganj, Bagaha, Lauriya, Sikta, Raxaul, Sugauli, Narkatia, Motihari, Chiraia, Dhaka, Riga, bathnaha (SC), Parihar, Sursand, Bajpatti, Harlakhi, Benipatti, Khajauli, Babubarhi, Bisfi, Laukaha, Nirmali, Pipra, Supaul, Triveniganj (SC), Chhatapur, Narpatganj, Raniganj (SC), Forbesganj, Araria, Jokihat, Sikti, Bahadurganj, Thakurganj, Kishanganj, Kochadhaman, Amour, baisi, Kasba, Banmankhi (SC), Rupauli, Dhamdaha, Purnia, Katihar, Kadwa, Balrampur, Pranpur, Manihari (ST), Barari, Korha (SC), Alamnagar, Bihariganj, Singheshwar (SC), Madhepura, Sonbarsha (SC), Saharsa, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Mahishi, Darbhanga, Hayaghat, Bahadurpur, Keoti, Jale, Gaighat, Aurai, Bochahan (SC), Sakra (SC), Kurhani, Muzaffarpur, Mahua, Patepur (SC), Kalyanpur (SC), Warisnagar, Samastipur, Morwa, and Sarairanjan.
The Commission has prepared the Schedules for holding General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar after taking into consideration all relevant aspects like climatic conditions, academic calendar, major festivals, prevailing law and order situation in the State, availability of Central Police Forces, time needed for movement, transportation and timely deployment of forces and in-depth assessment of other relevant ground realities.
The Commission expects all officials engaged in the conduct of elections to discharge their duties in an impartial manner without any fear or favour. They are deemed to be on deputation to the Commission and shall be subject to its control, supervision and discipline. The conduct of all Government officials who have been entrusted with election related responsibilities and duties would remain under constant scrutiny of the Commission and strict action shall be taken against the officials who are found wanting on any account.
The ECI has sought the active cooperation, close collaboration, and constructive partnership of all the stakeholders in the electoral
process and strives to employ the collective synergies towards delivering a smooth, free, fair, peaceful, participative and festive General Assembly Election, 2020, in Bihar, according to a PIB release.
Counting of votes- The Commission has issued following guidelines in view of COVID-19 :
1) Strong Room shall be sanitised before the storage of polled EVMs.
2) Social Distancing and other safety norms shall be followed for each activity.
3) Not more than 7 counting tables instead of 14 counting tables should be allowed in a counting hall. Hence, counting of votes of a constituency may be considered at 3-4 halls by appointing additional Assistant Returning Officers.