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The Election Commission has deputed noted folk singer Sharada Sinha to encourage the electorate to vote during the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. The first of the six-phase polls in Bihar begins on Thursday. The Chief Election Commissioner, S. Y. Qureshi, during his recent visit to the state to review the poll preparedness, called for the need to bring in celebrities for spreading poll awareness. Sharada Sinha has been appealing to voters to exercise their right to vote on television in different languages. "We all are trying that our voters realize their rights. They should understand the importance of their vote and believe that it can do anything and the future of our state is connected with their vote. Each and every vote is important. I have also sung a song that every vote is important, so please vote," Sinha said on Wednesday. Sinha called for the participation of educated people in politics. "I personally believe that voting on the basis of community is not right. A candidate who is good and can bring in development should come in politics. Someone who actually wants to work for the state should come in politics. Educated people should come into politics," said Sinha. As per the final rolls, 55,088,402 people will be entitled to cast their votes. Results will be known on November 24. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the State for the first phase of Assembly polls beginning Thursday with voters from 47 constituencies spread over eight districts of the State to vote in this phase. It has been reported that 'Observers' and 'Micro Observers' have been appointed to ensure free and fair polls as voters from of Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, Madhepura and Saharsa Districts will cast their votes in the first phase. "Observers and Micro Observers have been appointed to ensure free and fair polls. Over one crore seven lakh voters will decide the electoral fortune of 631 candidates including 52 women," said Chief Electoral Officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh. Bihar Director General of Police Neelmani said the central para-military forces personnel are being deployed on all booths for peaceful poll, asserting that areas bordering Nepal has been sealed to prevent any untoward incident. There are further reports that the Election Commission has issued a list of 14 alternate documents to be accepted by the presiding officers during the assembly polls to verify the identity of voters in case they do not have Electors photo identity card. These alternative documents include passport, driving licence, PAN card, arms licence, certificate of physically handicap, freedom fighter identity card, caste certificate, pass book of bank or post office, service identity card issued by state or central government offices and job card issued under NREGA. Property document such as registered deed, pension document, health insurance scheme, smart card and photo identity card issued by recognized educational institutions to their students will also be allowed for voting purposes. It has also been reported by the Association for Democratic Reforms that over 379 candidates with pending criminal cases are contesting the Assembly polls in Bihar. Around 219 candidates with self-declared pending criminal charges are contesting the Assembly polls in the second and third phase, which includes 129 of the candidates with serious charges. The 129 candidates out of these 219 have declared serious IPC charges like murder and attempt to murder charges against them. All the major political parties have given tickets to candidate with pending criminal cases, according to the analysis. The Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) has given tickets to 71 percent candidates with criminal background, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to 69 percent such candidates, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has given tickets to 66 percent such candidates, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to 63 percent such candidates, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to 38 percent and Indian National Congress (INC) to 31 percent candidates having criminal cases registered against them, says the Association for Democratic Reforms. The toll-free helpline, SMS, facebook and myneta campaigns are underway to help the voters choose honest candidates. The six-phase poll for 243 seats beginning tomorrow concludes on November 20 The first phase of elections will take place tomorrow for 47 state assembly seats, the second phase on October 24, the third phase on October 28 for 48 seats, the fourth on November1 for 42 seats, the fifth phase on November 9 for 25 seats and the sixth and last phase on November 20 for 26 seats. Counting of votes will take place on November 24. Bihar has over 5.5 crore voters, who will exercise their franchise through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Election Commission deputes folk singer to motivate Bihar voters to cast their votes