Bihar elections: ECI holds Observers' briefing ahead of 'world's largest' polls amid COVID

As  Bihar assembly election is just around corner, Election Commission of India on Monday organised a Briefing meeting for Observers who would be deployed in conducting assembly election. meeting was a virtual cum physical garing which saw participation of more than 700 General, Police and Expenditure Observers joining virtually from 119 locations across country, while 40 observers participated in person, who were posted in Delhi.

Speaking on occasion, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora explained impact of COVID-19 on election schedules around world while elaborating on assessments done by ECI before deciding to go ahead with Bihar election.

He also said this election holds prominence as it will be watched by entire world for being largest election to be held amid COVID-19 pandemic and hence he urged Observers to be extra careful and take utmost precautions.

He also urged Observers to take all efforts to instil confidence in voters to come to polling station on election day to cast ir vote safely and freely for which Observers will have to assume role of a friend, philosopher and guide to local election machinery in order to guide m and help resolve ir issues.

ECI anunced Bihar election schedule on September 25.  polling for 243-member legislative assembly will be held in three phases. first phase will be held on October 28, Second on vember 3 and third on vember 7, while counting of votes and results declaration will be held on vember 10. Model Code of Conduct has been in effect since anuncement of election dates.

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NDA vs Mahagathbandhan in Bihar elections

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads a coalition with BJP, will fight for a fourth term in se elections, with opposition RJD and Congress challenging him.  ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) includes Janata Dal-United (JDU), BJP, Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha. However, owing to differences with JDU, LJP has decided to contest elections independently contending that a BJP-LJP government will be formed in Bihar.

In  243-member assembly seat, NDA currently has 131, and Mahagathbandhan has 101 seats (11 seats are vacant). In 2015 assembly polls, CM Nitish Kumar's JDU, n a part of Mahagathbandhan won 71 seats, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD won 80 seats, and Congress won 27 seats. BJP which fought elections alone after Kumar in 2013 broke 17-year-old alliance won a mere 53 seats out of 157 contested. However, saffron party came back to power when Kumar ditched Mahagathbandhan and once again stitched an alliance with BJP.

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