Patna: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and senior IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar on Friday emphasized the critical role of political parties in a strong and vibrant democracy, urging them to participate actively in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a detailed two-day review of poll preparedness in Patna for the forthcoming state elections.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, was joined by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. The Commission interacted with representatives of national and state political parties and reviewed every aspect of election preparedness—from law and order to voter outreach.
Political Parties Urged to Play Active Role in Electoral Process
During the meeting with representatives of major political parties—including BJP, Congress, RJD, JD(U), CPI(M), AAP, BSP, and others—CEC Kumar called on parties to appoint polling and counting agents to ensure transparency at every stage.
“Political parties are significant stakeholders in a strong democracy,” said CEC Kumar, encouraging them to celebrate elections as a festival of democracy.
Parties expressed their trust in the Commission and its efforts to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections. They also praised recent EC initiatives to improve the polling process.
Suggestions from Political Parties
Political parties requested that the election dates be scheduled after the Chhath festival, one of Bihar’s most important cultural events. They also recommended conducting the elections in as few phases as possible to reduce logistical strain.
Among the recent initiatives that drew widespread appreciation:
- Capping maximum voters per polling station at 1,200
- Ensuring postal ballot counting concludes before the last EVM round
- Mandating Presiding Officers to distribute Form 17C to agents on-site
EC’s Assurance and Follow-Up with Officials
After meeting with political leaders, the Commission conducted a detailed session with senior officials, including IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SSPs, and SPs.
Key focus areas included:
- EVM management and logistics
- Polling station rationalisation
- Security arrangements and law & order
- Training of election personnel
- Voter awareness campaigns
- Handling fake news on social media
All district-level officials were instructed to act with complete impartiality, address complaints swiftly, and ensure transparency in all operations.
The Commission also directed strict monitoring of social media platforms to counter misinformation and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
