Bihar polls to be held in 2 phases on Nov 6, 11; BJP says it 'festival of democracy', Opposition questions EC's 'credibility'

New Delhi [India], October 6 (ANI): The race for one of the most prestigious political battles of the year has begun after the Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for the Assembly Elections in Bihar. The 243 Assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting of votes to be held on November 14.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, also informed that the ECI has decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists throughout the country, following the announcement of the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections.
Addressing the press conferences, the Chief Election Commissioner said, "ECI has already taken a decision to conduct SIR throughout the country."
Earlier, in its order on June 24, the EC had stated that SIR would be conducted across the country.

Reacting to the SIR process in Bihar, the CEC asserted that the electors of Bihar had fully participated in the purification of the voter list in the state.
"The final voter's list after SIR has been given to all political parties. Post the date of nomination filing, the Voters' list, which is to be released, will be final. The electors of Bihar fully participated in the purification of the voter list in the state," the CEC said.
Following the Election Commission's announcement of election dates, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda also extended their greetings to the people of the state, expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would once again receive a decisive mandate under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shah congratulated the people of Bihar on what he described as the "grand festival of democracy." He said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has freed Bihar from "Jungle Raj" and placed it firmly on the path of development and good governance.
In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "The Election Commission has announced the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. Congratulations to all the people of Bihar for this grand festival of democracy."
Expressing optimism about the upcoming polls, Shah wrote, "I am fully confident that the people of Bihar will once again choose the politics of development this time."
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda also welcomed the announcement of the Bihar elections, calling the elections the "greatest festival of democracy."
Nadda noted that elections serve as the foundation of India's democratic process and are key to ensuring the continuity of development and good governance.
"I welcome the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Election by the Election Commission of India today. Elections are the greatest festival of democracy. They are the primary means to keep the country and state on the path of development and good governance, Nadda said in a post on X.
Reacting to poll dates, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also called it the "festival of democracy".
"We welcome this. This is the festival of democracy...NDA will go the people on the basis of our work and the development of Bihar...We are prepared..." the Deputy CM said.
Expressing confidence that the EC will conduct a fair election, Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal asserted that the "NDA is prepared and united for this election".
"NDA and BJP welcome this...We are confident that the EC will conduct a fair election and ensure that all voters can vote safely...On 14th Nov, people will give their mandate to form an NDA Govt once again...NDA is prepared and united for this election...With the work that we have done, we are confident that people of Bihar will like development and form NDA govt with more than 2/3rd votes..." Dilip Jaiswal said.
Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Union Minister Giriraj Singh asserted that it is the mercy of the Election Commission that they didn't file an FIR against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
"I believe that the dates and two-phase polls were announced by the EC after speaking with all parties...Formation of the NDA Government with more than 2/3 votes is certain. Rahul Gandhi executed a hit-and-run on SIR and ran away...It is the mercy of the Election Commission that they didn't file an FIR against him. Otherwise, case should have been registered against some people for spreading rumours..." Giriraj Singh said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the Election Commission's announcement of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, expressing optimism about the democratic exercise.
"I heartily welcome the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections by the Election Commission today. There is tremendous enthusiasm among all workers of the BJP, including the NDA, regarding this festival of democracy," Pradhan wrote in a post on X.
He added that the hardworking and dedicated NDA workers will reach every village and home to present the public welfare achievements of the double-engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"The people of Bihar are going to decide in this democratic festival, with full enthusiasm and active participation, to elect the NDA government dedicated to good governance again on November 14 with a massive majority, thereby realising the resolve of 'Developed India - Developed Bihar,'" Pradhan wrote.
BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain also said that the NDA has done excellent work in Bihar.
"The Election Commission has announced the long-awaited moment. The NDA has done excellent work in Bihar. Under Nitish Kumar's leadership, Bihar has progressed. PM Modi has given 14 lakh crore rupees to Bihar in 11 years... This time, the NDA will receive the votes of all communities... On November 14, it will be written in history that Bihar voted on the measure of development..." Hussain said.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are questioning the credibility of the Election Commission (EC) and asserting that the people of Bihar are yearning for change after two decades of governance under the NDA.
The announcement has sparked a sharp political response, as Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the Election Commission has not provided satisfactory answers on the issue of voter list revisions, claiming that an unnecessary narrative has been created around "infiltration."
"The Election Commission has not answered some very critical questions. They created an atmosphere as though Bihar is infiltrated by people from Bangladesh and Nepal. But when they delete names, they don't come up with a single name of any so-called infiltrator. Why did you create a political narrative around infiltrations? Where are the infiltrators? Now they say they have removed the people who were dead....The credibility of the Election Commission comes under a dark cloud everyday," Khera said in Delhi.
Asserting similar concerns, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that he has "no confidence" that the poll body would conduct free and fair elections.
"EC cannot be trusted...I am confident that EC won't conduct fair elections in Bihar. If fair elections are held in Bihar, the BJP-Nitish Kumar government will never come to power," Alvi explained.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar also described the mood in Bihar as being "clearly in favour of change," adding that the people have only faced "hopelessness" under the current regime.
"The mood in Bihar is of change. The people of Bihar have only got hopelessness from those who have been in power for the last 20 years..SIR was done in haste, and that is why people raised their objections...Our alliance will get a majority and take a decision (on who will be the CM) in a democratic way," Anwar said.
From the Shiv Sena (UBT), MP Priyanka Chaturvedi appealed to voters to use this election to usher in a new era of governance.
"I hope that Bihar will bring in the politics of change, government of change. People of Bihar have been deceived for years. Bihar has been only towards misery. Voting will be held for a positive change in Bihar. I urge everyone in Bihar to vote for a new government."
In Ranchi, JMM MP Mahua Maji also expressed optimism that the INDIA alliance would see a breakthrough in Bihar.
"The Bihar election has been announced. The public should take this as an opportunity, as they want change...The way their trust in the INDIA alliance has increased, we have received very positive signals from that...We are fully confident that this time there will be a change...", the JMM MP said.
The assembly polls is expected to witness a keen contest with the NDA alliance consisting of the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustan Awami Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Shakti Party (RLSP) up against the INDIA bloc of RJD, Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, CPM and Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). The two alliances will also have to compete with a new player, Prashant Kishor and his party Jan Suraaj, which is expected to eat into the vote share of major parties. To get a closer picture of what the electorate could throw up, here is a look at the data from the last two assembly polls.
Bihar politics has seen allies shifting sides, with JD-U leader Nitish Kumar also having made famous somersaults in his over two decades as Chief Minister.
In the 2020 assembly elections, the RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, while the BJP was a close second with 74 seats. Both parties have a strong and committed voter base. With the entry of a new player in Jan Suraaj , this election promises to be a close contest, with the smaller parties expected to play a crucial role in the formation of the next government. (ANI)