Bihar Poll Dates To Be Announced Today; Election Commission's Press Conference At 12:30PM

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to announce the dates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections 2020 at a press meet at 12:30pm today (25 September).

The commission has also laid down strict guidelines and social distancing norms to conduct the first polls in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The elections, likely in October, will be held in one phase, Hindustan Times reported.

"Hand gloves shall be provided to all the electors for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting," the EC earlier said, while adding that face masks, sanitisers, thermal scanners, gloves, face shields and personal protective equipment kits "shall be used during the electoral process ensuring social distancing norm".

Bihar will go to polls to elect 243 new assembly members and various political parties have begun campaigning.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United (JDU) led National Democratic Alliance has decided to go with the face of incumbent Chief Minister NItish Kumar. Other alliance members are Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

The opposition alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress is going to be led by former chief minister's son Tejaswi Yadav.