TIA correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Election commission of India on Monday announced the date for the six phased Assembly elections in Bihar. The lections will be held in six phases from October 21to November 20. the first phase of the election will be held on October 21, second on 24 and third on 28 of same month while the remaining phases will be held on November 1, 9 and 20. The counting would take place on the 24th of November.
Announcing the polls schedule for the 243 Assembly seats in Bihar, the Chief Election Commissioner Dr S.Y Quraishi said that the dates have been decided after taking into consideration several aspects including the festivals, the availability of central forces and law and order situation. He said that the bye election for Banka Lok Sabha constituency, which fell vacant after the death of Digvijay Singh will be held on the November 1. Quraishi said that there are more than 5 crore 50 lakh voters in the State. He also made it clear that model code of conduct has come into force from Monday itself.
Besides General Observers, the EC has also decided to appoint adequate number of Expenditure Observers in the state who will exclusively monitor the poll expenditure of the contesting candidates.
CEC dispelled fears about the EVMs, saying the machines were working "satisfactorily" and the EC would involve political parties during their first level checking which was not done earlier.
EC would also convene an all party meeting to discuss various issues regarding the elections.
47 seats would go to polls in the first phase for which notification will be issued on September 27, last date for nominations is October 4. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October seven.
In the second phase 45 constituencies would go to polls and the notification would issued on September 29, last date for nominations October 6.October nine is the last date for withdrawal.
The third phase will have 48 constituencies with October 4 being the date of notification, last date for nominations is October 11 and the last date for withdrawal on October 14.
Forty two seats will go to polls in fourth phase with the date of notification on October seven.
The notification for fifth phase will be issued on 15th October, last date for nominations is October 22. Last date for withdrawal is October 25. The last phase polls for the 26 constituencies ,the notifications will be issued on October 27, last date for nominations is November three and the last date for withdrawal is November six.