2 Or 3 Phases, Space For Diwali And Chhath: Sources On Bihar Election Dates
New Delhi:
The 2025 Bihar Assembly Election may be held over two or three phases, Election Commission sources told NDTV Monday. The schedule will be decided keeping Diwali and Chhath Puja in mind, the sources also said. Diwali this year will be on October 20 and Chhath on October 28.
The Bihar Assembly term ends on November 22, so the election process (including counting and declaration of results) must be finished before that. Sources said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will visit the state sometime this month to oversee preparations.
Meanwhile, the poll panel is training to BLO, or booth level operators to ensure a fair election, and avoid allegations related to voter lists like those made by the Congress and other opposition parties after the 2024 Maharashtra and Haryana elections and the Delhi election in February.
The Bharatiya Janata Party romped to victories in all three.
In Delhi it thumped the Aam Aadmi Party to claim power in the national capital for the first time in nearly three decades, and in Haryana it overcame a strong start by the Congress to retain power for a third consecutive term in the heartland state. In Maharashtra voter list fraud was alleged after the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi failed to perform like in the Lok Sabha election a few months earlier.
The Election Commission had strongly refused all such claims.
And now, as part of a renewed effort to counter such allegations, the poll panel will provide all BLOs with identity cards, sources said. This will allow them to go door-to-door for verification.
Also, a campaign will be held to update the voter list, so people turning 18 can be added. This will also, sources said, eliminate the problem of duplicate voter ID numbers.
The Election Commission is also prepared to deal with challenges posed by AI, sources said.
2020 Bihar Election
The 2020 Bihar election was held in three phases; voting was on October 28, November 3, and November 7, with results announced on November 10. The result was an overwhelming victory for the BJP and Janata Dal (United)-led alliance, but there was much drama that followed.
JDU boss and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lived up to his ' paltu Kumar' sobriquet in just two years later, in August 2022, declaring "I would rather die than go with the BJP (anymore)".
He re-aligned with Tejashwi Yadav and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, but then flipped again. Amid confusion and controversy, in January 2024 he dumped the RJD and returned to the BJP's side.
The 2025 election will be keenly watched, as much for what Nitish Kumar does next as for the BJP building up steam ahead of a critical round of state polls next year, when Bengal and Assam will vote. Both polls will likely be dominated by fierce debates over issues like immigration.
In 2026 Tamil Nadu and Kerala will also vote. Both states have historically rejected the BJP and its brand of muscular nationalism, with the former giving the DMK and Congress alliance big wins in the past three major polls - the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Houses outside lal dora to get water connections but at a hefty price
Chandigarh: The BJP-led municipal corporation did approve the agenda of temporary water connections for residents living outside the lal dora at 22 villages in the city, but with a caveat. The civic body has imposed double domestic charges and hefty construction charges, much to the chagrin of opposition parties, which protested against the financial burden. According to the opposition, water connections should be provided without imposing double domestic charges and construction charges on old buildings. Regardless of their protests, the mayor and BJP councillors approved the agenda. Objecting to this, AAP councillor Hardeep Singh said, "Water connection is required, but not by imposing double charges and construction charges on old buildings. I opposed these hefty charges, but the mayor completely ignored it and allowed the agenda to be approved, placing this unbearable financial burden on residents living outside Lal Dora." Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh agreed. "It is very wrong that water connections are passed, only to be given at double rates and by applying construction charges on old buildings. In their hunger to take credit, BJP approved the agenda but through wrong means, which will impose a major financial burden on the public. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This is cheating the residents living outside Lal Dora. There is no logic of imposing a double domestic charge while giving such water connections. " BJP faced opposition within its ranks too, with councillor Kanwar Rana saying that double domestic charges outside lal dora should not be imposed. However, his objection was also ignored and the agenda was passed. The final decision will be taken by the Chandigarh administration. However, sources said that any construction outside the lal dora is illegal in the eyes of the UT administration, which terms such construction as illegal. Although the MC held meetings with senior officers of the UT and raised the issue before the administrator, arguing that water supply is a necessity, the move may encourage more illegal construction outside Lal Dora. Moreover, constructed properties outside the lal dora are being used for commercial activities. "Since the Periphery Control Act applies in Chandigarh and outside lal dora construction is a violation, approved agenda of the general house will be sent to the UT administration for its consideration. The UT will legally, administratively, and logically examine all points before taking a final decision," sources in the MC revealed. MSID:: 121601782 413 |
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
India can talk to Pak if it takes action against terrorism: Tharoor
Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said India is open to dialogue with Pakistan, but only if Islamabad takes concrete and visible action against terrorist networks operating on its who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Brazil for the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, made the remarks in a candid interview with PTI Videos, stressing that 'the problem in talking to Pakistan is not the language but finding a common vision for decency and peace.'advertisement'You crack down on this infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere in your country. Then, of course, we can talk,' Tharoor said, underlining that India has no issue with communication -- but rather, with credibility. 'We can talk to them in Hindustani. We can talk to them in Punjabi. We can talk to them in English,' he said. 'There is no problem in finding common ground with Pakistan. The problem is finding a common vision for decency, for peace.'Tharoor challenged Pakistan's claims of innocence, asking why internationally wanted terrorists are able to live openly and operate freely within its borders.'If Pakistan is as innocent as they claim to be, why do they give safe haven to wanted terrorists? Why are they able to conduct training camps, radicalise people, equip them with arms, and let them practice with Kalashnikovs?' he the frequently-cited notion of Pakistan's strategy to 'bleed India by a thousand cuts,' Tharoor responded sharply: 'They're not going to bleed us to death so easily. Better forget that idea.'Tharoor also noted that his delegation had effectively conveyed India's stance against terrorism to Latin American nations, including those who may have previously misunderstood India's position.'We've been very clear. International forums are not our main concern. Our concern is bilateral -- Pakistan's complete failure to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism in their country,' he whether Brazil, as BRICS host, might issue a statement condemning terrorism against Indian citizens, Tharoor said he wasn't aware of such plans. 'Honestly, BRICS has a different agenda... that's not really my brief,' he his remarks, Tharoor reiterated that India seeks peace, prosperity, and stability—but not at the cost of overlooking terrorism.'We want to be left in peace, to grow and develop,' he said. 'They don't want to leave us alone. They want to harass us. They want to undermine us.'On a question whether nations have been recognising India's stance against terrorism, Tharoor said his delegation has been to four nations—Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil- so far and 'this has been very clear in all the countries we've been to'.advertisement'And I would say in all four countries, we've had a very, clear success, if that's the word, I don't like to boast of success. That's for others to judge. But we have got our message through very clearly, including to those who may have had some misunderstandings,' he said, referring to Tharoor had said Colombia withdrew a statement offering condolences to Pakistan for the loss of lives following India's military strikes in response to the Pahalgam attack after his delegation explained Islamabad's relentless support to cross-border terrorism.'And as a result of getting our message through, we have certainly been able, in my view, to come back feeling that these countries understand our situation better and express full solidarity with our struggle against terrorism, which is the main purpose of our trip,' Tharoor delegation concluded their visit with a meeting with Brazil Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.'The visit of the Indian parliamentary delegation concluded on a high note with a meeting with the Vice President of Brazil @geraldoalckmin. The delegation thanked him for Brazil's firm stand against terrorism and welcomed his emphasis on deepening bilateral ties in trade, defence, science & technology, and other key sectors,' the Indian Embassy in Brazil posted on Tharoor-led delegation is heading to Washington DC from inputs from PTITune InMust Watch
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
EC banks on tech for faster turnout updates
NEW DELHI: In a reform that promises to fix the delays in updating of voter turnout figures on poll day - a grouse often raised by Congress to question the electoral processes and EC itself - the poll panel Tuesday said it shall replace the manual reporting methods with a streamlined, technology-driven system that will provide timely updates to the public on approximate poll percentage trends. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This new process significantly reduces time lag associated with earlier manual reporting methods. The initiative aligns with EC's commitment to ensure timely public communication, which has often been underlined by CEC Gyanesh Kumar," EC said in a statement Tuesday. The faster voter turnout update system shall kick off with upcoming Bihar assembly poll. Reiterating its commitment to keep the public informed and ensure faster updation of approximate voter turnout trends, the poll panel explained that the presiding officer of each polling station will now directly enter voter turnout on the new ECINET app - which will bring 40 election-related apps, including voter turnout (VTR) app, on a single platform - every couple of hours on polling day as well as immediately upon close of poll. These updates will be automatically aggregated at constituency level. Uploading of voter percentage at close of elections, just before the presiding officer leaves the polling station, will eliminate the time lag between voter turnout at close of poll and updated/final voter turnout figures released by the .
