Coloured candidates' photograph, bigger serial numbers to be displayed on EVMs during Bihar polls, says CEC

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Today, the Election Commission also met with senior officials from the Income Tax Department, police, and other enforcement agencies to review action plans aimed at ensuring transparency and integrity in the upcoming elections. 

Later, the Commission conducted strategic meetings with the Chief Electoral Officer, the State Police Nodal Officer, and representatives of central security forces to assess operational readiness. This will be followed by a high-level review of overall state-level coordination with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other senior bureaucrats.

EC press conference

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the elections will be conducted before November 22. "There are 243 general constituencies in Bihar. Elections will be conducted before November 22. The entire team of the Election Commission is present in Bihar for two days. Election Commission officials held meetings with the Bihar police administration, heads of enforcement agencies, and nodal officers," he said.

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CEC Kumar also urged all the voters of Bihar to cast their vote and celebrate the election day just like they celebrate the Chhath Puja festival. "We congratulate the voters of India. Thank you to everyone for the successful SIR process. I appeal to all the voters of Bihar to celebrate this festival of democracy with the same enthusiasm as you celebrate Chhath. Everyone should vote and ensure their participation," he added.

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The CEC further said that starting with the Bihar elections, the serial number font will be larger across the country, and the candidates' photographs will be colour photographs.

CEC Kumar said, "...When the ballot paper is inserted into the EVM, the photo on it is black and white, making it difficult to identify, even though the election symbol remains. It was also suggested that the serial number should be larger. So, starting with the Bihar elections, the serial number font will be larger across the country, and the candidates' photographs will be colour photographs."

EC meeting with political parties 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday chaired a key meeting with representatives of several political parties in Bihar. During their interaction with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the political parties kept several demands, but all agreed that the elections should be conducted in minimal phases and only after Chhath, which is an important festival in Bihar. 

Following the meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JD-U) said it has urged the poll body to ensure that elections are held in just one phase like 2024 Maharashtra polls. It must be noted that the previous elections in Bihar were held in three phases. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the JD-U, also said that the elections should be held in one or two phases. It also urged the poll body to identify women turning up at booths in burqa. Speaking to reporters, BJP's Bihar unit chief Dilip Jaiswal said the saffron party has also demanded that adequate paramilitary forces should be deployed in villages "with a heavy population of weaker sections".

Although Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) agreed that elections should be held in one or two phases, it slammed the BJP over its demand of verification of burqa-clad voters. Abhay Kushwaha, who led the RJD delegation, dismissed BJP's demand, calling it a political ploy to push the saffron party's agenda.