Patna: The build-up to the Bihar Assembly elections gathered pace on Saturday as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and two Election Commissioners met representatives of all major parties at a hotel in Patna.
Parties including the JD (U), BJP, RJD, Congress, BSP and others submitted their suggestions and demands for the upcoming polls, expected to be announced within days.
मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त श्री ज्ञानेश कुमार की अध्यक्षता में चुनाव आयुक्त डॉ. सुखबीर सिंह संधु एवं चुनाव आयुक्त डॉ. विवेक जोशी के साथ बिहार के सभी मान्यता प्राप्त राजनीतिक दलों के साथ चर्चा संपन्न हुई।
चुनाव आयोग और राजनीतिक दलों के बीच हुए संवाद का सारांश निम्नवत है (in image👇) pic.twitter.com/Sv7hMbxZTd
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 4, 2025
The JD (U) and RLJP pressed for a single-phase election, while the BJP proposed one or two phases, arguing that multiple rounds inflated costs. BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal went further, demanding a ban on women wearing burqas at polling stations and calling for paramilitary marches in Dalit and backward community villages, along with horse-mounted patrols in Diara regions to prevent booth looting.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, supported a two-phase election, while the BSP raised concerns over the financial burden of mandated advertisements for candidates with criminal cases. BSP representative Suresh Rao asked the Commission to regulate publication costs, arguing that poor candidates could not afford them.
The meeting also discussed law and order, transparency, the model code of conduct and polling station facilities. Sources said the Election Commission is likely to announce the election schedule within the next three days.
