A comprehensive review meeting was convened under the leadership of Bihar’s Chief Secretary, Amrit Lal Meena, to assess the preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly General Election 2025. The meeting, held via video conference in the old secretariat assembly hall, addressed several crucial aspects of the election and issued important directives.
Attendees included the Director General of Police, Vinay Kumar; the Chief Electoral Officer, Vinod Singh Gunjiayal; the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary; the Divisional Commissioner of Magadh; and District Magistrates/Superintendents of Police from the relevant districts. The District Magistrates/Police Superintendents from Arwal, Nawada, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, and Gaya districts presented details of their election preparation efforts.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Vinod Singh Gunjiayal, issued crucial instructions, specifying that one booth would be allocated for every 1200 voters. He directed staff to complete data entry in the election software promptly. Furthermore, he instructed officials to ensure the processing of received applications, identify ‘shadow zones’ and establish communication plans, and arrange sufficient vehicles.
Emphasis was placed on the recovery of illegal weapons and ammunition. Gunjiayal clarified that booth relocation should be avoided, and additional booths should be created at the same locations. He also instructed officials to coordinate with the Forest Department for continuous border area raids and coordinate with relevant departments to provide Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at polling stations.
The Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, issued directives regarding security arrangements, including weapon and arms shop inspections, verification of used ammunition, and the expedited resolution of pending cases in police stations. He also ordered monthly inspections of all prisons and directed strict monitoring of social media to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Director General of Police Vinay Kumar directed all police officers to quickly execute pending arrest and property attachment warrants. The Chief Secretary also instructed the district administration to initiate extensive preparations to ensure clean, fair, and peaceful voting. He mandated effective administrative arrangements to guarantee full compliance with the Election Commission of India’s instructions. Additionally, the vehicle checking campaign at district check posts was to be intensified, with special attention to be given to inter-state borders.