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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bihar SIR: Rationalisation of polling stations, change in BLOs spark confusion on ground
Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has carried out rationalisation and reorganisation of polling stations in the entire State, a move which political parties claim has added to the confusion on the ground. The number of polling stations in the State has now gone up from 77,895 to 90,712. This has been done to adhere to the SIR order of June 24, which had directed that the number of voters in each polling station be limited to 1,200 from the earlier ceiling of 1,500. The ECI has said that Bihar is the first State to implement this new ceiling of voters for each polling station. However, the ECI, instead of numbering the new booths separately, has given fresh numbers to all the booths. In addition, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in charge of each polling station have been reassigned, according to the new numbering. This, coupled with the fact that the rationalisation process was implemented on July 26, after the first phase of SIR was over, has meant that the BLOs who collected the enumeration forms in the first phase would not be the ones handling the claims and objections from voters. Political workers as well as voters on the ground said that many a time, the BLO who had collected the form was not available to answer their concerns regarding deletion of names, or documents that must be submitted in case a voter's booth had been changed. In a letter to District Election Officer, Begusarai, Congress district president Abhay Kumar Singh Sarjan, said: 'BLOs of newly created parts/booths have complained that much confusion has been created by this modification of existing booths during the SIR process, because they have to procure the enumeration forms and documents collected by the BLOs of older parts/booths. Such confusion [among] the BLOs has made the process of verification of deleted electors even more difficult.' Another Congress district president, Anil Singh, who heads the Chapra unit, told The Hindu: 'Some of the BLOs who have moved to new booths are not even answering calls of voters from whom they had collected their forms'. Similar concerns have been raised by parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) as well. However, sources in the Bihar State Election Office said that polling station rationalisation was carried out in a transparent and organised manner and all political parties were informed through distribution of the new list. Public meetings were also organised, they said. The sources said that in cases where one polling station was divided into two, there was seamless data transfer between the two BLOs and since the officials are local residents, contacting them was not difficult for voters. The list of polling stations has also been pasted on each building which houses them. A senior ECI official in Delhi said that the rationalisation of polling stations was done to prevent long queues and overcrowding in booths during voting. 'Smaller booths also ensure a higher voting percentage, it has been observed,' he added.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bharat bandh evokes mixed response across state; protest peaceful in most districts
Begusarai/Madhepura/Araria/Madhubani/Chhapra/Khagaria/Gaya/Buxar: Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, called by a coalition of 10 central trade unions and supported by the INDIA bloc in Bihar, remained largely peaceful across many districts of the state. Vehicular movement was thin, markets were shut, and public offices recorded thin attendance. Districts such as Begusarai, Madhepura, Araria, Madhubani, Saran, Khagaria, Gaya, and Buxar witnessed roadblocks, tyre burning, and protest marches led by the Congress, RJD, CPI, and CPI(ML)—though schools, banks, and essential services continued with minimal disruption. While the INDIA bloc lauded the success of the bandh, BJP leaders downplayed its impact. Begusarai: Supporters of the INDIA bloc blocked traffic at several points on NH-31, NH-28, and SH-55 in Begusarai. The bandh was led by Congress district president Abhay Kumar Singh Sarjan, CPI district secretary Awadhesh Rai, RJD district president Mohit Yadav, CPI(ML) leader Diwakar, and other Grand Alliance leaders. Traffic remained disrupted on NH-31 near Begusarai railway station until the afternoon. Vehicles were stranded on NH-31 and NH-28 at Begusarai, Barauni, Teghra, and Bachhwara. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like '잦은 무릎통증' 수술없이 / 단 1회 주사치료 가능하다? 무릎치료 30년 - 장덕한방병원 서초본원(서울,강남) 더 알아보기 Undo Markets remained partially open, while schools and colleges functioned normally. Madhepura: Protesters blocked roads at various locations in the town, affecting traffic for several hours. Agitators set tyres on fire at B N Mandal Chowk and Karpoori Chowk, disrupting vehicular movement. Heavy vehicles stayed off the roads, while daily traffic remained thin. However, private vehicles and autorickshaws continued to ply. Local traders shut their shops in the morning to avoid disturbances but reopened them in the afternoon. Government offices and banks functioned with thin attendance. Araria: Courts and other offices wore a deserted look due to the bandh, which passed peacefully. Shops and other business establishments remained open. Opposition leaders were seen halting traffic at various points in the district. No untoward incidents were reported. Madhubani: The bandh disrupted normal life in Madhubani. Protesters blocked roads at Station Chowk and in front of the Collectorate, halting traffic on the Darbhanga-Madhubani main road for over two hours. The Shaheed Express (14673) was stopped at Madhubani station for 20 minutes. Both gates of the Collectorate were closed, forcing several employees to return home. Traffic was restored after the arrest of several leaders, including MLAs Samir Kumar Mahaseth and Bharat Mandal, RJD district president Ramashish Yadav, Congress chief Subodh Mandal, and CPI(ML)'s Dhrub Narain Karn. Chhapra: The bandh evoked a mixed response in Chhapra and nearby areas. Private schools remained closed as a precaution, but the university, colleges, and several departments operated normally. Markets were shut in the first half of the day but reopened later. The centralised evaluation of answer books at Jagdam College continued undisturbed. Former media head of BJP Shyam Bihari Agrawal termed the bandh as "flop". Khagaria: The bandh remained peaceful in Khagaria. Shops and businesses remained closed at Alouli, Beldaur, Chautham, Gogri, Mansi, and Parbatta block headquarters. However, at the district headquarters, most shops and establishments stayed open. Traffic was thin on NH-31 and NH-107. Protesters blocked NH-107 near Karua Mor, but traffic was restored after police intervention. President of the Bihar Pradesh Kisan Manch, Dhirendra Kumar Singh, said that local farmers refrained from participating in the agitation. Gaya: Most business establishments in the main market areas—Chowk, Bajaja Road, Dhamitola, KP Road—remained closed in the morning. Auto and e-rickshaw movement was disrupted on routes from Gaya railway station to Sikariya Mor, Mufassil, and Bodh Gaya. Passengers arriving in Gaya by train faced difficulties in reaching their destinations. Senior RJD leader and Jehanabad MP Surendra Prasad Yadav led a protest march from Gandhi Maidan to the Chowk area and accused the Union govt of conspiring to deprive underprivileged citizens of their democratic rights. Police were deployed at key locations in the town as a precautionary measure. Buxar: A protest march was held in Buxar Town in response to the bandh. Hundreds of Grand Alliance workers, including RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), VIP, and other Left leaders, blocked Jyoti Prakash Chowk on Station Road in the morning. Among the participants were Dumraon MLA Ajit Kumar Singh, RJD district president Sheshnath Singh, Buxar Congress MLA Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Rajpur MLA Vishwanath Ram, former Rajya Sabha MP (CPI) Nagendra Nath Ojha, ex-MP Tej Narayan Singh, and others from CPI(ML), Congress, AIPWA, and affiliated organisations. The bandh had minimal impact in Dumraon as no road blockades were reported, though traffic remained thin. Drivers like Mohd Irfan (Deoria) and Krishnanand Singh (Kushinagar) said they avoided entering the city to steer clear of possible traffic jams. According to Dumraon SDPO Afaque Ansari, police maintained high alert and ensured smooth traffic flow throughout Dumraon.
