Bihar will go to the polls in five phases from October 12 to November 5, with counting scheduled for November 8, the Election Commission of India announced here on Wednesday.
Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said election to the > 243-seat Assembly will be held on October 12, 16, 28, November 1 and 5. The term of the present House expires on November 29. Polling will be held for 49 seats in the first phase, 32 in the second, 50 in the third, 55 in the fourth and 57 in the fifth and final phase. The model code of conduct comes into effect immediately.
Noting that a number of important festivals like Eid, Muharram and Dussehra will fall in the election period, Mr. Zaidi said the Election Commission will take steps and deploy forces to ensure communal harmony and peace.
The EC has ensured that Central armed police force personnel will be deployed in all 62,779 polling stations. Over 47 constituencies are affected by left-wing extremism. For the first time, Electronic Voting Machines will bear photos of candidates to prevent confusion over contenders with the same names.
The much-awaited poll will be a key test for the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the difficult period the BJP has endured following a huge loss in the Delhi election earlier this year.
Bihar >Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is seeking a third term for his JD(U), this time in alliance with the RJD and the Congress.
