Post-Chhath Bihar polls: NDA, Oppn on same page

Verify burqa-clad voters: BJP to EC

- MPOST BUREAU

Political parties in Bihar told the Election Commission on Saturday to hold Assembly elections "immediately after" the Chhath festival to ensure increased voter participation and in as few phases as possible, the poll body said.

Chhath, an important festival in Bihar that is celebrated six days after Diwali, will fall on October 25-28 this year.

Representatives of six national and as many state parties interacted with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi in Patna, officials said.

The poll authority is in Patna for two days to take stock of poll pre paredness in the state. The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22.

The first phase of elections is likely to be held at the end of October, soon after Chhath.

During Diwali and Chhath, people employed outside Bihar return home for festivities, and it is considered the best time to hold polls to ensure greater voter participation.

"To maximise the participation of voters in the elections, political parties suggested that the elections be scheduled immediately after the Chhath festival and for the elections to be completed in as few phases as possible," EC said in a statement.