Gehlot, Baghel, Adhir named Cong observers for Bihar elections

The Congress on Saturday appointed senior leaders Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as AICC senior observers for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

“The Congress president has also approved the proposal for the appointment of 41 district election observers, for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar,” the party said.

Bihar is likely to go to the polls in multiple phases, in keeping with the past electoral cycles. In 2020, voting was held across three phases, 71 constituencies on October 28, 94 on November 3 and 78 on November 7, with results announced on November 10. The 2015 elections had been stretched across five phases.

The contest is expected to pit the ruling NDA against the opposition INDIA bloc. In the 243-member House, the NDA currently commands a majority with 131 seats, BJP 80, JD(U) 45, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 4, and 2 Independents. The INDIA bloc holds 111 seats, with RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2 and CPI 2.