The Election Commission on Saturday announced a four-phase polling schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections from October 18 to November 19.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner B. B. Tandon said the second phase of voting would be on October 26 and the third phase on November 13. In the first phase 61 constituencies would go to the polls; 69 in the second; 72 in the third and 41 in the fourth. Counting of votes would be taken up on November 22 and all results might be declared the same day. The entire poll process would be completed by November 23.

Mr. Tandon, flanked by Election Commissioners N. Gopalaswamy and Navin Chawla, said the Model Code of Conduct would come into immediate effect for the State Government, political parties and the Union Government as far as Bihar affairs were concerned.

Asked about the long schedule, he said it was fixed keeping in view the availability of Central para-military forces, the law and order situation, including problems posed by naxalites, the communications system and the condition of roads.

The Commission also took into consideration festivals such as Dussehra, Deepavali and Chhat falling in October and November. There would be maximum deployment of para-military forces under the supervision of the poll observers and monitoring by the Commission.

The State Government was asked to ensure strict implementation of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act so that the weaker sections were not intimidated to vote in a particular manner. An official would act as the returning officer for only one constituency. In the past, there was one returning officer even for three or four constituencies.

A total of 57,363 polling booths, including 7,300 auxiliary booths will be set up for 52.7 million voters in Bihar. The Commission notified the names of returning officers. Extensive videography would be done to ensure free and fair elections.

On execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs), he said the State initially informed the Commission that 27,123 of them were pending. The figure jumped to 70,189 when he visited Patna on August 25 and further increased to 76,471 in the latest report of the State Government.

Mr. Tandon said the Director-General of Police explained that a large number of NBWs were suppressed earlier in Siwan, Buxar, Aurangabad and Banka. Action was being initiated against the Superintendents of Police concerned for not reporting the matter earlier.

Mr. Tandon said: "This is a sad reflection on the affairs of the police administration in Bihar. It appears that there was hidden pressure so that more NBWs were not detected." He said the Commission was also not satisfied with the unearthing of 790 illegal arms and the DGP was asked to take action to ensure law and order.