Congress appoints 58 observers ahead of Bihar Assembly elections | Check full list

In a move to strengthen its election machinery in Bihar, the Congress on Sunday appointed 58 AICC observers for the upcoming state Assembly polls, expected to be held around October-November this year.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the list of observers, which includes several notable names such as Wing Commander Anuma Acharya (retd), Ali Mehandi, Ashok Chandna, Manoj Yadav, Nadeem Javed, Shoaib Khan, Akhilesh Yadav, and Virender Yadav, among others.

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Alliance performance in previous polls

In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections-

• The RJD, the largest partner in the Mahagathbandhan, contested 144 seats and won 75.
• The Congress fielded candidates on 70 seats, managing to secure just 19.
• The CPI(ML) Liberation, another alliance member, contested 19 seats and won 12.

With this appointment drive, the Congress aims to revamp its ground-level coordination and play a more effective role in the Mahagathbandhan as the poll battle heats up.

EC to upload 2003 voter list for Bihar; nearly 5 crore voters exempt from submitting documents

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will soon upload the 2003 Bihar electoral roll on its website to assist nearly 4.96 crore voters whose names were part of that list. These voters will not be required to submit additional documents while filling out enumeration forms as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

EC's objective: Ensure inclusion of all eligible voters

Responding to criticism from opposition parties, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasized that the revision exercise aims to include all eligible citizens and exclude those who are ineligible or non-citizens. The EC dismissed allegations of manipulation and stated that the revision is a constitutional obligation under Article 326, which mandates universal adult suffrage.

Opposition raises concerns over potential misuse

Several opposition parties have voiced concerns that the revision could lead to targeted exclusion of voters using the state machinery. However, a senior EC official said that questioning the exercise amounts to challenging constitutional principles and called for transparency from those opposing it.

Booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed; more can join

The EC has urged political parties to appoint Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) to ensure transparency during the revision process. So far, 1.54 lakh BLAs have been appointed by national and state-recognised parties. The EC has encouraged more appointments to help monitor the process at the grassroots level.