International delegation observes assembly polls in Bihar

Patna: For the first time, a 16-member delegation from six countries observed the first phase of the assembly elections during the two-day visit that ended Thursday.The delegation, representing South Africa, Belgium, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Colombia, arrived in Patna on Wednesday.

The delegation visited the office of the chief electoral officer, Bihar, to inspect EVM dispatch centres and witnessed polling on Thursday.The representatives were impressed by the security arrangements, the election process and use of the EVMs.Chief electoral officer (CEO), Bihar, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal and state police’s nodal officer Kundan Krishnan briefed the delegates on the overall electoral process, logistics and security measures, communication systems, mock drills, and arrangements to ensure peaceful and transparent voting.Additional CEO Prashant C H gave a presentation on the deployment of polling personnel, polling plans, election technologies and the helpline management and grievance redressal system.The delegation included election commissioner Titichet Nutchanart; Suttima Chuethai, Teeradech Pansamut and Karn Sampantachit from the Election Commission of Thailand; commissioner Idham Holik; Selly Harlini and Johan Teguh Lesmana from Indonesia’s General Elections Commission, with Rizki Multazam from the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi. Diplomatic observers were Mashudubele Sedula Mamabolo from the South African high commission, Steven De Wilde from the embassy of Belgium, and Melissa Anne Telan and Rogelio B Silva Jr from the Philippines embassy.