NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday declared the schedule for the Bihar assembly polls, which will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14.While declaring the dates, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said the polling process “will be a smooth and comfortable experience” for the electors. He said 1044 polling stations across Bihar will be managed by women.The CEC said fake news on social media will be countered effectively, adding that there will be zero tolerance for voter intimidation and violence. “The Election Commission intends to conduct peaceful, fair, and transparent elections. For this to happen, the Commission expects cooperation from all political parties, voters, and the media,” the CEC said.The Bihar elections will be the first after the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which deleted 68.5 lakh voters and added 21.5 lakh new names.“The final voter’s list after SIR has been given to all political parties. Post the date of nomination filing, the Voters’ list, which is to be released, will be final,” Gyanesh Kumar said.Gyanesh Kumar said that “no polling station will have more than 1,200 voters” to ensure smoother voting. On Sunday, while briefing the media in Patna, the CEC said that booth-level officials will carry identity cards for easier identification and that voters’ mobile phones can be deposited outside the booth. “Identity cards have been introduced for booth-level officials to better identify them when approaching voters. Mobile phones can be deposited in a room outside the booth. This process will be implemented throughout Bihar… There will be 100 per cent webcasting at every polling station,” the CEC added.The Election Commission has also revised its guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, for the design and printing of EVM ballot papers to enhance their clarity and readability. According to an official statement, the photographs of candidates will be printed in colour on the EVM ballot paper, and the candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the photo space for better visibility. Serial numbers of candidates and Nota will be printed in the international form of Indian numerals, with a bold font size of 30 for clarity. The upgraded EVM ballot papers will be used in the upcoming elections, starting with the Assembly polls in Bihar.The Bihar election is expected to be a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by chief minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, headed by Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).In the 243-member assembly, the NDA currently holds 131 seats, BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents, while the Mahagathbandhan has 111 seats, comprising RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2.With the poll-scheduled announcement, political activity in Bihar is likely to heat up, prompting the parties in the poll fray to step up their efforts to woo voters into their fold in a bid to win the mega battle in the key state of the Hindi heartland.