Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi reviews Bihar poll preparations in Patna

IANS May 16, 2025 467 views

Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi is in Bihar to ensure flawless election preparations. During his visit to Patna, he held critical discussions with top state officials to address the security and logistics of the upcoming polls. He stressed the importance of transparency, especially during the First Level Checking of EVMs across 13 districts. By training local officials and conducting field visits, Joshi aims to set the stage for smooth and impartial elections.

"Our commitment is to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections." - Dr. Vivek Joshi
Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi reviews Bihar poll preparations in Patna
Patna, May 16: As Bihar gears up for the Assembly elections later this year, Election Commissioner Dr Vivek Joshi is on a four-day official visit to the state, which began on May 15, to review poll preparations.

Key Points

1

Vivek Joshi oversees Bihar poll readiness in Patna

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Focus on security, EVM checks, training

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Visits include Motihari and Bettiah for field assessments

A high-level review meeting was held in Patna under Dr Joshi’s chairmanship on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, State Police Nodal Officer Kundan Krishnan, Inspector General of Police (Patna), the District Magistrate and SSP of Patna, Additional Secretary of the Election Department, and other senior officials.

The focus of the meeting was to review election preparedness, ensuring peaceful and fair polling, and strengthening coordination among different arms of the election machinery.

Dr Joshi, who was received in Patna by CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, is overseeing key aspects of the election process, including security arrangements, voter facilitation at polling stations, First Level Checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and training programmes for polling officials.

Field visits at the district level are also part of his itinerary.

As part of his tour, Dr Joshi will travel to Motihari (East Champaran) and Bettiah (West Champaran) to inspect EVM FLC processes and interact with District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He will also assess the readiness of polling stations and voter service centres.

The Election Commission, in collaboration with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management -- its premier training wing -- is conducting division-wise training programmes across Bihar.

These sessions aim to enhance the efficiency of polling staff and ensure that booth-level agents of political parties are well-informed about electoral procedures.

Currently, the FLC of EVMs is underway in 13 districts of Bihar. The Election Commission aims to complete the exercise with full transparency and technical precision.

Dr Joshi’s visit underlines the Election Commission of India’s commitment to ensuring that the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections are free, fair, inclusive, technologically robust, and devoid of any malpractice or violence.

Reader Comments

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Rajesh K.
Good to see such thorough preparations! Bihar elections are always crucial for national politics. Hope EVM checks are done properly this time - last election had some complaints. EC should also focus on preventing booth capturing in sensitive areas. 🙏
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Priyanka M.
As a former BLO from Patna, I know how challenging Bihar elections can be. Training programs are essential - many rural polling staff aren't tech-savvy. Dr Joshi should personally verify EVM storage facilities. Some centers last time had poor security arrangements.
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Amit S.
Why only 13 districts for EVM checking? Should cover all 38 districts equally. Champaran visit is good but what about Maoist-affected areas like Gaya, Aurangabad? Security should be top priority there. EC needs to be more transparent about deployment plans.
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Sunita R.
Appreciate the EC's efforts! 👏 But what about voter awareness? Many women in rural Bihar still don't know about voter ID linking or polling booth locations. Should run more Jan Jagran programs through local radio and Anganwadi workers.
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Vikram J.
Hope they're preparing for COVID protocols too. Bihar's healthcare system can't handle another wave. EC should make masks mandatory at polling stations and arrange proper distancing. Last panchayat elections were super-spreader events!
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Neha T.
Good initiative but implementation matters most. In 2020 elections, many booths opened late and EVMs malfunctioned. This time EC should have backup plans ready. Also, please ensure proper facilities for disabled voters - last time ramps were missing in many places.

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Bihar Elections Vivek Joshi Election Commission Patna Poll Preparations