ECI Delegation Visits Patna to Review Bihar Assembly Poll Preparations

A team from the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Patna on Friday to assess preparations for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. The delegation also includes Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

The visit comes as the Bihar Assembly’s term ends on November 22, with elections required to be completed before that date. Traditionally, the ECI conducts on-ground visits to poll-bound states shortly before announcing the election schedule.

During their visit, the team met representatives of the 12 recognized political parties in Bihar. Sharing updates on X, the ECI said, “ECI delegation led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar and ECs Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi arrives in Patna today to review poll preparedness for forthcoming Bihar Assembly Elections.”

Ahead of the trip, the ECI briefed General, Police, and Expenditure Observers who will serve as Central Observers for the Bihar assembly elections and select by-elections. A total of 425 officers, including 287 IAS officers, 58 IPS officers, and 80 officials from IRS, IRAS, ICAS, and other services, attended the meeting at IIIDEM, New Delhi.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar addressed the observers as “beacons of democracy,” instructing them to familiarize themselves with election laws, provide field inputs, ensure impartial compliance, remain accessible to political parties, candidates, and voters, and oversee the implementation of voter-friendly initiatives at polling stations.

Central Observers are appointed under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to assist in conducting free and fair elections and monitoring electoral processes on the ground.