NEW DELHI: Election commission of India declares the dates for Bihar assembly elections today.
*Polling dates: First phase, October 28; second phase, November 3 and third phase, November 7.
*Bihar polls to be held in three phases; 1st phase to cover 71 assembly constituencies, 2nd phase for 94 seats and 3rd will have 78: EC.
*Counting for all three phases will take place on November 10.
*Number of phases for 243-member Bihar assembly polls reduced keeping in mind security arrangements, festive season: EC.
*Social media use for mischievous purposes, flaring up communal tension will have consequences; hate speech to be dealt with harshly: EC.
*Postal ballot facility will be provided wherever required and requested: EC on Bihar polls during COVID-19 pandemic.
*EC on Bihar polls: 7 lakh hand sanitisers, 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh face shields, 23 lakh pairs of hand gloves arranged.
* Social distancing norms need to be followed at public gatherings during election campaign: CEC Sunil Arora.
*Bihar polls: EC says voting time to be extended by one hour till 6 pm; COVID-19 patients can vote in last hour of the day.
*COVID-19 pandemic has forced a new normal in all aspects of life; Bihar polls to be held under new security protocols: Election Commission.
*Bihar assembly polls will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during prevailing COVID-19 situation: Election Commission.