Bihar polls: EC takes BIG decision on burqa-clad voters, says ‘dignified’ identification will be done by…
Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Amid allegations of face coverings like burqa and niqab being used to cast fake votes, the Election Commission has announced special arrangements at polling booths in Bihar, stating that Anganwadi workers will be deployed across the state for for “dignified” identification of burqa or purdah-clad women voters.
What EC said about burqa-clad voters?
In a statement issued on Friday, EC said “special arrangements” will be made at polling stations across Bihar to encourage participation of ‘purdanasheen’ (in burqa or purdah) women, and ensure their “dignified identification” is carried out by lady polling officers or attendants while ensuring their privacy, as per the poll body’s guidelines.
On Monday, addressing a presser in New Delhi to announce schedule for Bihar Assembly election 2025, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had said Aanganwadi workers will be deployed at polling booths across the poll-bound state to help verify the identity of burqa-clad voters.
“Our anganwadi workers will be deployed at all polling booths for verifying the identity of burqa-clad women. The guidelines of the commission are very clear about this — that how identity is verified inside a polling station and they will be strictly followed,” he said.
Why EC deployed Anganwadi workers?
On a query about ‘ghungat’ and burqa clad women, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said there are clear EC guidelines about the verification of identity inside polling booths and they will be strictly followed.
On Thursday, the poll authority had said up to 90,712 Anganwadi Sevikas will be deployed on poll duty.
Earlier, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal had urged the Commission to ensure that faces of women turning up at booths in burqas were tallied with voter cards.
The elections for 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar will be held in two phases — November 6 and 11 — while the counting of votes will be on November 14.
(With PTI inputs)
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