The full Election Commission team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, will meet officials from various enforcement agencies, along with nodal officers from the police department and central forces, in Patna today – the second and final day of their visit to Bihar. The team is on a two-day visit to assess preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Later today, the Commission will also review poll preparedness with the State Chief Electoral Officer, Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police.

A press conference has been scheduled for this afternoon to brief the media on the outcomes of the two-day review. On the first day of the visit yesterday, the Commission held a marathon meeting in Patna with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all 38 districts. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar instructed officials to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner. He also directed them to identify vulnerable areas and implement confidence-building measures for voters.

Emphasis was laid on the strict monitoring of fake news and misinformation on social media. Earlier, the Commission held consultations with representatives of 12 recognised political parties. The BJP, JD(U), and RJD requested that polling be conducted in two or fewer phases, while most parties urged that voting take place after Chhath Puja, preferably in the first week of November.