Bihar elections: First phase on Wednesday, 71 seats go to polls

Dumraon (Buxar): When voters step out for the first phase of election to 71 Bihar Assembly seats on Wednesday, authorities will be on alert to ensure fair and peaceful polls and strict compliance with Covid-19 rules.

Special arrangements have been made in view of the coronavirus pandemic. All polling officials have been give protection kits, including face masks, hand gloves, thermal screening devices and sanitisers.

As per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), thermal screening of voters will be carried out by polling staff/health workers before they enter the polling booths. Markers are being used to help people follow social distancing norms while queuing up to cast their vote.


“We have got an adequate number of face masks. We would provide masks to such voters who are not carrying it,” a member of a polling party told ET, adding that face shields are also being given to polling staff.

Each polling booth will have at least two bins for used hand gloves.

On Tuesday, district magistrates and superintendents of police of 16 districts, in which the 71 Assembly seats are spread, briefed the patrolling magistrate on their tasks. “The main task before the administration is to ensure dispatch of polling parties to the polling booths, besides area mobilisation,” a source in the office of Bihar’s chief electoral officer, told ET on phone.

The administration has also identified locations that are vulnerable to threats and intimidation. By Tuesday evening, the administration was set to complete its task of sanitising all polling booths.

Meanwhile, political parties are in constant touch with members of their booth committees. “Every candidate knows his or her strong areas where he is supposed to bag a good number of votes. So they mobilise the booth committees concerned for ensuring high polling in such areas,” one worker of a political party told ET.