Assembly elections: ECI deploys 8.5 lakh poll personnel in Bihar

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed around 8.5 lakh poll officials in Bihar to ensure smooth and orderly progress of the various phases of Assembly elections in the state.

The Bihar Assembly elections are to be held on November 6 and November 11 in two phases, while the results are to be announced on November 14.

The personnel deployed include nearly 4.53 lakh polling personnel, 2.5 lakh police officials, 28,370 counting personnel, 17,875 micro observers, 9,625 sector officers, 4,840 micro observers for counting and up to 90,712 anganwadi ‘sevikas’.

As many as 500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including those of CRPF, SSB, CISF and state police have also been deployed for pre-poll duties in Bihar, sources informed.

A total of around 1,200 CAPF companies are likely to be deployed in all once the elections begin, they added further.

The election machinery, including 90,712 BLOs and 243 EROs is available for the voters on a phone call and through the book-a-call to BLO facility on the ECINet App.

Call centre number 91 (STD Code) 1950 is also available for registering any complaint/query at the DEO/RO level.

All the personnel deployed shall be deemed to be on deputation to the ECI as per the provisions of Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

In a first, one general observer has been deployed for each of the 243 constituencies in Bihar to function as the eyes and ears of the Commission.

In addition to this, 38 police observers and 67 expenditure observers have also been deployed, sources informed further.

The observers will station themselves in their respective constituencies and meet political parties/candidates on a regular basis to address their concerns.