Votes for the Bihar assembly election will be counted on Tuesday
With one day to go for Bihar election results, Tejashwi Yadav's RJD has appealed to people to "maintain peace and behave well" on counting day irrespective of the outcome of the polls. In a tweet on Sunday, the party said there should be no use of firecrackers or rowdy behaviour and civility must be maintained towards the rival parties.
"On November 10, counting of votes will take place. Whatever be the result, we have to behave well, maintain peace. No worker should use colours, firecrackers etc. There should not be any indiscipline in the excitement of a victory," read a rough translation of the party's tweet in Hindi.
In a second tweet, the RJD asked its workers to keep in mind that irrespective of the results "at the centre of your politics is public upliftment and people's convenience".
Most exit polls have predicted the Tejashwi Yadav-led Opposition alliance will gain majority in the just-concluded assembly elections in the state way ahead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA.
An aggregate of opinion polls indicated that the opposition coalition will win 128 of Bihar's 243 seats and the NDA, 99. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party or LJP is likely to win six seats, the math indicated.
The majority mark in the state stands at 122.
Disclaimer: exit polls often get it wrong.
Here are the Live Updates from Bihar:
Bihar Election Results 2020: Date And Time To Check Counting Of VotesThe counting of votes for the recently concluded Bihar elections will be held on Tuesday, November 10 and will decide the fate of over 3,700 candidates who contested the polls. The three-phased elections concluded on November 7. A total of 243 assembly seats in the state are up for grabs and stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan.
More Counting Centres, Social Distancing As Poll Body Gears Up For Bihar Results
Ahead of the counting day on Tuesday, the Election Commission of India has increased the number of counting centres to 55 in order to comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The number of counting centres in the state was 38 during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, reported news agency ANI. "Earlier we used to have 38 counting centres for 38 districts but this time we have 55 counting centres and the simple reason is that we want to maintain social distance," Bihar Chief Election Commissioner HR Srinivasa said. In Patna, votes for all the 14 assembly constituencies will be counted at one centre set up at AN College. The poll panel said it is readying 30 counting halls at the college. Mr Srinivasa further said that ECI has established a 3-tier security system for strong rooms (housing the EVMs) and the counting centres.
Prohibitory orders imposed in and around the counting centresAfter the counting commences at 8 am, the postal ballots -- cast by staff on poll duty and service voters will be -- will be opened first followed by EVM votes.
In Bhagalpur district, which has two counting centres Government Polytechnic College, Barari and Women's ITI -- preparations are being made for the November 10 results for seven assembly seats.
Display screens are being set up and two tents being erected at each counting centre for journalists and security personnel.
Arrangements are being made to put seven tables in each of the 14 halls.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) have been imposed in and around the counting centres to prevent gathering of people.
Bihar awaits poll results on Nov 10One CAPF company comprises around 100 personnel. The CEO said the Election Commission will strictly deal with any "anti-social" elements who indulges in "hooliganism" during or in the aftermath of the counting.
Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said CCTV cameras have been installed in the control rooms.
"Their display is in the District Election Officers offices. And they are also being monitored regularly by the Chief Electoral Officer," he said.
Bihar counting day tomorrow: Counting centres being preppedIn the state capital Patna, votes for all the 14 assembly constituencies will be counted at just one centre set up at A.N. College.
The poll panel said it is readying 30 counting halls at the college.
Bihar Chief Electoral Officer H R Srinivasa said the Election Commission has established a three-tier security system for strong rooms (housing the Electronic Voting Machines) and the counting centres.
The inner core is being guarded by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), then there is the Bihar Military Police (BMP) and then the district police, he told reporters.
"We have deployed 19 companies of CAPF just for the security of the strong rooms and counting centres. Besides, we have 59 CAPF companies to ensure law and order during and in the aftermath of the counting process," he said.
COVID-19 guidelines to be followed strictly on Bihar counting dayConsidering the fact that coronavirus is raging in the state, steps have been taken to ensure that COVID guidelines are strictly followed during the counting.
Face masks will be mandatory for entering into the counting centres besides sanitisers will be kept in adequate quantity there.
55 counting centres, 78 CAPF cos, CCTVs: All set for Nov 10 as Bihar awaits poll resultsThe Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes on November 10 for the Bihar assembly polls as the state awaits results of a closely-fought election.
The poll panel said it has set up a total of 55 counting centres, housing 414 halls, spread across all the 38 districts of the state that voted in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7.
The maximum three counting centres each have been set up in four districts of East Champaran (which has 12 assembly constituencies), Gaya (10 constituencies), Siwan (eight constituencies) and Begusarai (seven).
Rest other districts either have one or two counting centres each.
For birthday, Tejashwi Yadav asks supporters to be vigilant on counting day
With Mahagathbandan chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav deciding to keep his birthday celebrations simple, the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) on Sunday requested party workers to stay at home and avoid turning up at his house to personally greet.
The party has also asked workers to be vigilant on November 10, the day when votes of Bihar Assembly polls will be counted. The RJD''s chief ministerial candidate celebrates his 31 st birthday on November 9.
"A humble request to all well wishers and supporters that the Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav personal decision to celebrate his birthday with simplicity, you stay at home and avoid coming to the house to personally greet. Keep your vigilant presence in the area for counting of 10 November," RJD tweeted in Hindi.
Earlier in the day, with exit polls predicting victory for the RJD-led Grand Alliance, the party warned its workers against indulging in celebratory firing and "uncivil behaviour" towards rivals on the day of the counting of votes, irrespective of the results.