What Preparations are Underway for Bihar's Assembly Elections with Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi?

Synopsis
With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi's four-day visit is crucial for ensuring a smooth electoral process. The focus is on security, voter facilitation, and training polling staff to uphold a fair democratic process. Stay tuned for insights from his extensive review meetings and field visits!
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Vivek Joshi emphasizes election preparedness in Bihar.
- Review meetings include key officials for seamless coordination.
- Focus on security measures and voter facilitation.
- Training programs aim to empower polling staff.
- EVM checks ensure transparency in the electoral process.
Patna, May 16 (NationPress) As Bihar prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections later this year, Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi has embarked on a four-day official visit to the state starting from May 15, aimed at assessing the election preparations.
A significant review meeting took place in Patna, presided over by Dr. Joshi on Friday.
Attendees included Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, State Police Nodal Officer Kundan Krishnan, the Inspector General of Police (Patna), the District Magistrate and SSP of Patna, Additional Secretary of the Election Department, along with other senior officials.
The primary objective of the meeting was to evaluate election readiness, ensure peaceful and fair polling, and enhance coordination among various electoral bodies.
Dr. Joshi, welcomed in Patna by CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, is focusing on crucial elements of the election process, including security protocols, voter assistance at polling stations, First Level Checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and training initiatives for polling personnel.
His itinerary also includes field visits at the district level.
During his tour, Dr. Joshi will head to Motihari (East Champaran) and Bettiah (West Champaran) to examine EVM FLC procedures and engage with District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He will also evaluate the readiness of polling stations and voter service centers.
The Election Commission, in partnership with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management—its leading training body—is conducting division-specific training programs across Bihar.
These sessions aim to boost the effectiveness of polling staff and ensure that booth-level agents from political parties are well-versed in electoral processes.
Currently, the FLC of EVMs is being conducted in 13 districts of Bihar. The Election Commission is committed to completing this task with utmost transparency and technical accuracy.
Dr. Joshi's visit emphasizes the Election Commission of India's dedication to ensuring the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections are conducted in a manner that is free, fair, inclusive, technologically advanced, and free from any malpractice or violence.