Patna, Oct 6 (NationPress) After the Election Commission of India's (ECI) announcement regarding Bihar's election dates, Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition and RJD leader, asserted on Monday that he could achieve in 20 months what the NDA administration failed to accomplish over 20 years.

In a statement to IANS, Tejashwi Yadav expressed, "With the announcement of the election dates, the people of Bihar have been granted another chance after two decades. This time, they will not overlook it. The community desires change. The citizens of Bihar have suffered under the NDA for 20 years. There hasn't been a single day free from hardship."

He continued, "This administration has ruined the education sector. The farmers and healthcare systems lack adequate support. All that exists is corruption, crime, and authoritarianism. Protecting criminals, the corrupt, and those involved in paper leaks has become the norm. Bihar yearns for liberation from this. Bihar craves transformation, and November 14 will be a historical milestone marking that transformation."

"Bihar needs a Chief Minister who does not beg for the people's rights but fights for their development. The state requires a visionary leader, not someone who merely mimics my actions. What the NDA couldn’t achieve in 20 years, I will accomplish in 20 months if granted the opportunity. Upon assuming power, unemployment will be eradicated. Following Chhath Puja, we will establish a government where every citizen of Bihar becomes a 'Change Maker'," he stated.

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav also shared his thoughts, saying, "The ECI operates under the BJP's influence. Special trains and extra buses are being organized around Chhath Puja to sway voters. Election dates are chosen for their benefit. The metro is not even fully operational, yet they rush to inaugurate it. The ECI's agenda is to ensure a BJP government. The Congress has been preparing extensively. We have already secured victory unless votes are manipulated."

Samajwadi Party leader S.T. Hasan remarked, "Elections are necessary, and the Opposition wanted them in a single phase. This is a significant challenge for the ECI. If the elections aren't conducted fairly, it raises major concerns about our democracy. I hope the ECI adheres to constitutional standards during the polls."

Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Mehrotra affirmed, "The election dates are set. Voting will occur in two phases, and the INDIA Bloc will govern Bihar."

Congress leader Ravinder Sharma remarked, "We are fully prepared for the Bihar elections. We have voiced concerns regarding a fair election, and both the Congress and the INDIA Bloc are ready."

Congress State President Ajay Rai stated, "Bihar is a region of transformation, and that transformation is imminent. This is where Mahatma Gandhi initiated his protest. The wave of change will commence from Bihar and extend across the nation."

The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled for two phases on November 6 and 11, with results announced on November 14.

In a media briefing, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, described the Bihar elections as the "mother of all elections".

"We assure Bihar voters that the elections will not only be exemplary and smooth but will also prioritize peace through a focus on law and order," he stated.

The upcoming elections, set for 2025, will be the first in the eastern state following the electoral roll purification under a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which resulted in a final voter list comprising 7.43 crore electors, including 14 lakh first-time voters.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar also provided details about the SIR conducted after a 22-year hiatus, noting that the final electoral roll has been provided to all political parties.

"The period for requesting amendments to the electoral rolls remains open until 10 days before candidates file their nomination papers for the upcoming elections," he added.

Gyanesh Kumar also unveiled the poll panel's strategies to counteract any form of "fake news," particularly on social media, at the district level to mitigate misinformation.

Furthermore, he announced that each of the 243 constituencies will have individual observers, as opposed to the previous arrangement where one observer was responsible for multiple seats.

The announcement of Bihar's assembly election dates followed the poll panel's delegation review of electoral preparedness in the state, which involved meetings with representatives of all major political parties and assessments of logistical arrangements.

The current 243-member Bihar Assembly term concludes on November 22, necessitating elections before that date. The 2020 Bihar Assembly elections were conducted in three phases.