Annoucement of the state assembly elections in three phases in Bihar was made on 17th December, 2004 as per a Press Note of the Election Commission of India and the Model Code of Conduct is in effect the whole of the State of Bihar and will be applicable to all Political Parties and to the State Government of Bihar.
Date of Polls in Bihar is on 3rd February, 15th February and 23rd February 2005.

By virtue of the powers, duties and functions of Election Commission of India under Article 324 read with Articles 172 (1) and 174(1) of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission is under a constitutional mandate to hold elections to constitute new Legislative Assemblies in the State of Bihar.

The electoral rolls in the State of Bihar are summarily revised with reference to 1st January 2005 as the qualifying date and as per the present programme already announced, the electoral rolls for the State is scheduled for final publication on 3rd January 2005.

The final electoral rolls are supposed to be published and displayed on 3rd January at all designated locations, i.e., all polling stations and delivery post offices for the benefit of electors. The copies of finally published electoral rolls shall also be made available to all recognized National and State political parties. In terms of the law regarding registration of electors, further changes by way of additions, deletions, corrections or transposition can only be carried out till the last date for nominations.

The Commission has therefore appealed to all eligible electors to check their names and entries in the electoral rolls and in case of any omission or commission in respect of their entries, approach the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or Electoral Registration Officer of their constituency well in time for corrective action.

In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that compulsory identification of voters with the means of Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) will be made in the General Election to the State Legislative Assemblies of the State. In order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the Electoral Rolls,
separate instructions will be issued prescribing alternative documents for the identification of
electors at the time of poll.

Sufficient Central Para-Military Forces (CPMFs) will be provided to the State for maintaining law and order, and the security of polling personnel, candidates, electors and the EVMs. The forces will be deployed in various constituencies in consultation with the Observers.

In its endeavour to maintain law & order during election period, the State has been asked to
execute all non-bailable warrants, launch special drives to unearth illegal arms and make preventive arrests. The District Magistrates will make a detailed individual review for assessment of all licensed arm holders, and if considered necessary shall get their arms deposited in the District Armoury for the period of elections.

The Commission has issued several instructions to ensure impartiality of government officials and their non-involvement in the electoral politics. In spite of these instructions, Commission had received several complaints during the previous elections regarding biased and partial behaviour of certain government servants who were engaged in connection with elections.
Commission desires to make it clear, in unambiguous terms that the conduct of all government officials who have been entrusted with election related responsibilities and duties would remain under constant scrutiny. The Commission will take a very serious note of any lapses in this regard.

The Commission in order to ensure free and fair polls has already given instructions to the State Government to transfer all election related officials, Police Officers of the rank of Sub Inspector and above engaged in maintenance of law and order and Sergeant Majors from their home districts. Instructions have also been issued that these officers shall not be allowed to continue in the same district if they have completed a period of three years in that district during last four years. The State Government has also been instructed to transfer all those officers who were charged / transferred for any misconduct or lapse while performing election related duties in the past by the Election Commission, from the posts entailing election work.

The Commission has decided that it will be the personal responsibility of every Presiding Officer to ensure that secrecy of vote is maintained in all respect at the time of poll in the polling station. No individual shall be allowed to accompany any elector to the voting compartment except in case of blind and infirm voter who are entitled to be accompanied under the law. No
photography, video or still, shall also be allowed inside the polling stations.

The District Election Officers in the State have been asked to set up a comprehensive communication system to facilitate quick complaint redressal during the election period. They have also been asked to open Helplines / Control Rooms in each constituency for the
convenience of electors.

The Commission has already issued detailed guidelines for Videography of critical events during the election process and polling at sensitive / hypersensitive polling booths on the poll day. The District Election Officers shall follow these instructions scrupulously.

The Commission has urged to all electors, media and all non-governmental organisations to perform an active and responsible role in the forthcoming elections.

The Commission, after taking into consideration all relevant factors has recommended to the Governor the State to issue notification for the said general elections under the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 as per the schedule issued by the Commission.

The Election Commission held a briefing meeting on 3rd January 2005 for the Observers (both General and Expenditure) who are being deployed for General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Bihar.

The meeting was addressed by T. S. Krishna Murthy, Chief Election Commissioner, B. B. Tandon, Election Commissioner and N. Gopalaswami, Election Commissioner. Hundreds of officers have been appointed as Observers to supervise the election process in forthcoming Legislative Assembly Elections, 2005. To ensure close monitoring and supervision one General Observer is being appointed for each assembly constituency and one Expenditure Observer for each District.

Earlier, Commission used to allot two General Observers and one Expenditure Observer to each district. The senior most General Observer in the District has been nominated as District Observer for the purpose of co-ordination. In addition to these, the Commission has appointed State Observers to supervise the election process. This time, Election Observers will stay in the constituencies during their first visit continuously till the end of poll day. This would ensure immediate redressal of complaints that are received from various political parties/candidates.

During the first visit, they will supervise the processes of nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal, campaign and poll. They would also be supervising
preparation of Electronic Voting Machines, training of polling personnel and conduct of voter awareness programmes. All Observers have been asked to
look into deployment plan of forces in the constituency. They will also be critically examining classification of hypersensitive and sensitive polling stations.

During the second visit, all Observers will monitor counting and declaration of results. Observers, who are appointed under Section 20B of the Representation of the Peoples Act, play an important statutory role to ensure free and fair elections. They act as crucial link between the field and the Commission. These officers remain under disciplinary control of the Commission till the end of elections.

During the forthcoming elections, not more than three vehicles will be allowed to come within 100 metres of Returning Officer’s/Assistant Returning Officer’s office at the time of nomination. To curb the tendency of overcrowding, the Commission has issued directions that at the time of nominations only candidates, their proposers as prescribed by law and four others be allowed to enter officer of Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer.

The Observers have been asked to make sure that the affidavits that are filed by the candidates at the time of nomination detailing convictions, cases pending in Courts, movable/immovable assets, qualifications are displayed prominently and made available for public scrutiny without any loss of time. Observers were specifically asked to tour the Assembly Constituency allotted extensively and build confidence among weaker and disadvantaged sections.

The Observers will constantly review execution of non-bailable warrants, recovery of illicit arms and collection of licenced arms from undesirable elements. They would also ensure that preventive arrests are not made to the advantage of any political party. The Observers will strictly enforce implementation of Model Code of Conduct. The Observers were informed that during the forthcoming elections, no videography or photography be allowed inside the polling stations and secrecy of vote will be maintained at all costs. The Observers were directed to make sure that extensive videography is done of all critical events, that may take place during the election process, and polling at hyper-sensitive polling stations.

During these elections, Central Government employees will be engaged for poll duty to the extent possible. The Observers were also asked to ensure that all those officers who stand transferred (because they were in their home districts or because they had completed three years of tenure at last station or because they were charged/transferred because of misconduct during previous elections) physically move out.

The Commission has asked all District Election Officers to prepare a comprehensive communication plan in consultation with Observers to ensure proper and effective communication on the day of poll. The Commission also directed that in cases where poll has been delayed for a considerable time, a repoll should be recommended. The Expenditure Observers were asked to monitor the expenditure closely and check the accounts submitted by candidates regularly. The accounts submitted periodically by the candidates shall be displayed by the Returning Officer prominently.



List of the Assembly Constituencies in Bihar

1 Dhanaha
2 Bagha (Sc)
3 Ramnagar
4 Shikarpur (Sc)
5 Sikta
6 Lauria
7 Chanpatia
8 Bettiah
9 Nautan
10 Razaul
11 Sugauli
12 Motihari
13 Adapur
14 Dhaka
15 Ghorasahan
16 Madhuban
17 Pipra (Sc)
18 Kesaria
19 Harsidhi
20 Gobindganj
21 Kateya
22 Bhore (Sc)
23 Mirganj
24 Gopalganj
25 Barauli
26 Baikunthpur
27 Basantpur
28 Goreakothi
29 Siwan
30 Mairwa (Sc)
31 Darauli
32 Ziradei
33 Maharajganj
34 Raghunathpur
35 Manjhi
36 Baniapur
37 Masrakh
38 Taraiya
39 Marhaura
40 Jalalpur
41 Chapra
42 Garkha (Sc)
43 Parsa
44 Sonepur
45 Hajipur
46 Raghopur
47 Mahnar
48 Jandaha
49 Patepur (Sc)
50 Mahua (Sc)
51 Lalganj
52 Vaishali
53 Paru
54 Sahebganj
55 Baruraj
56 Kanti
57 Kurhani
58 Sakra (Sc)
59 Muzaffarpur
60 Bochaha (Sc)
61 Gaighatti
62 Aurai
63 Minapur
64 Runisaidpur
65 Belsand
66 Sheohar
67 Sitamarhi
68 Bathnaha
69 Majorganj (Sc)
70 Sonbarsa
71 Sursand
72 Pupri
73 Benipatti
74 Bisfi
75 Harlakhi
76 Khajauli (Sc)
77 Babubarhi
78 Madhubani
79 Pandaul
80 Jhanjharpur
81 Phulparas
82 Laukaha
83 Madhepur
84 Manigachhi
85 Bahera
86 Ghanshyampur
87 Baheri
88 Darbhanga Rural (Sc)
89 Darbhanga Rural (Sc)
90 Keoti
91 Jale
92 Hayaghat
93 Kalyanpur
94 Warisnagar (Sc)
95 Samastipur
96 Sarairanjan
97 Mohiuddin Nagar
98 Dalsinghsarai
99 Bibhutpur
100 Rosera
101 Singhia (Sc)
102 Hasanpur
103 Balia
104 Matihani
105 Begusarai
106 Barauni
107 Bachwara
108 Cheria Bariapur
109 Bakhri (Sc)
110 Raghopur
111 Kishunpur
112 Supaul
113 Tribeniganj
114 Chhatapur (Sc)
115 Kumarkhand
116 Singheshwar
117 Saharsa
118 Mahishi
119 Simri Bakhtiarpur
120 Madhepura
121 Sonbarsa
122 Kishanganj
123 Alamnagar
124 Rupauli
125 Dhamdaha
126 Banmankhi (Sc)
127 Raniganj (Sc)
128 Narpatganj
129 Forbesganj
130 Araria
131 Sikti
132 Jokihat
133 Bahadurganj
134 Thakurganj
135 Kishanganj
136 Amour
137 Baisi
138 Kasba
139 Purnea
140 Korha (Sc)
141 Barari
142 Katihar
143 Kadwa
144 Barsoi
145 Pranpur
146 Manihari
147 Pirpainti
148 Colgong
149 Nathnagar
150 Bhagalpur
151 Gopalpur
152 Bihpur
153 Sultanganj (Sc)
154 Amarpur
155 Dhuraiya (Sc)
156 Banka
157 Belhar
158 Katoria
159 Chakai
160 Jhajha
161 Tarapur
162 Kharagpur
163 Parbatta
164 Chautham
165 Khagaria
166 Alauli (Sc)
167 Manghyr
168 Jamalpur
169 Surajgarha
170 Jamui
171 Sikandra (Sc)
172 Lakhisarai
173 Sheikhpura
174 Barbigha (Sc)
175 Asthawan
176 Bihar
177 Rajgir (Sc)
178 Nalanda
179 Islampur
180 Hilsa
181 Chandi
182 Harnaut
183 Mokameh
184 Barh
185 Bakhtiarpur
186 Fatwa (Sc)
187 Masaurhi
188 Patna West
189 Patna Central
190 Patna East
191 Dinapur
192 Maner
193 Phulwari (Sc)
194 Bikram
195 Paliganj
196 Sandesh
197 Barhara
198 Arrah
199 Shahpur
200 Brahmpur
201 Buxar
202 Rajpur (Sc)
203 Dumraon
204 Jagdishpur
205 Piro
206 Sahar (Sc)
207 Karakat
208 Bikramganj
209 Dinara
210 Ramgarh
211 Mohania (Sc)
212 Bhabhua
213 Chainpur
214 Sasaram
215 Chenari (Sc)
216 Nokha
217 Dehri
218 Nabinagar
219 Deo (Sc)
220 Aurangabad
221 Rafiganj
222 Obra
223 Goh
224 Arwal
225 Kutha
226 Makhdumpur
227 Jahanabad
228 Ghosi
229 Belaganj
230 Konch
231 Gaya Mufassil
232 Gaya Town
233 Imamganj (Sc)
234 Gurua
235 Bodh Gaya (Sc)
236 Barachatti (Sc)
237 Fatehpur (Sc)
238 Atri
239 Nawada
240 Rajauli (Sc)
241 Gobindpur
242 Warsaliganj
243 Hisua