CEC Gyanesh Kumar appeals to Bihar voters to celebrate elections like the Chhath festival.

Patna, October 5, 2025: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday urged the people of Bihar to participate in the upcoming Assembly election with the same enthusiasm and devotion with which they celebrate Chhath Puja, calling it a festival of democracy.

Gyanesh Kumar started his address in Bhojpuri and Maithili during his visit to Bihar. He said, “I greet all the voters of Bihar. Just as we celebrate the great festival of Chhath with faith and celebration, we should also celebrate this great festival of democracy in the same way. Ensure your participation, fulfill your responsibility, and vote.”

The CEC, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh and Dr. Vivek Joshi, spent two days in Bihar, holding a series of meetings with the Chief Secretary, DGP, and senior officials to review poll preparedness.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced major initiatives:

“For the first time, arrangements have been made to ensure voters receive their voter ID cards within 15 days of application. A maximum voter per booth will not exceed 1,200, with a total of 90,000 booths to be set up across Bihar, and every polling booth will have webcasting facilities.”

Gyanesh Kumar also pointed out that if there is any mismatch in EVM counting, all VVPAT slips from that booth will be counted.

He also said that the counting of postal ballots will be completed before the last two rounds of EVM counting begin, and candidates must ensure their polling agents are present at booths during mock polls, check totals in Form 17C, and verify results.

Gyanesh Kumar praised Booth-Level Officers (BLO):

Highlighting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted in Bihar, Gynesh Kumar praised booth-level officers (BLOs) for their efforts in purifying the voter list.

“For the first time in the country, BLO accomplished such a significant task. Just as Vaishali gave the nation its first republic, Bihar’s BLOs have now set a record in SIR,” he said.

He further announced an increase in allowances for BLOs and the issuance of official identity cards for them.

Training programs for BLOs, BLAs, and even police officers were also conducted under the Election Commission’s supervision.

“We have completed the final phase of our work here and will now return to Delhi. With the arrangements in place, Bihar will witness fair, transparent, and participatory elections,” the Chief Election Commissioner said.

Also Read: Election Commission published the draft voter list in Bihar; the objection window opens till September 1.

EOM.