New Delhi ( 21 OCT 2025 ) : : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025, alongside bye-elections for 8 Assembly Constituencies (ACs). To ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, the Commission has directed all State/UT governments to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Rapid Response to Violations
A robust enforcement mechanism has been put in place, with 824 Flying Squads deployed across Bihar. These teams are tasked with ensuring that all poll-related complaints are addressed swiftly, with a mandated response time of within 100 minutes.
C-VIGIL App: Citizen’s Watchdog
The ECI is actively encouraging citizens and political parties to use the dedicated C-VIGIL App on ECINET to report any instances of MCC violations. The app serves as a vital tool for real-time reporting, contributing significantly to the integrity of the elections.
As of October 21, 2025, the C-VIGIL app has seen considerable usage. A total of 650 complaints have been lodged across Bihar and the bye-elections bound States/UTs. Demonstrating the efficiency of the deployed squads, 649 complaints have been successfully disposed of. Significantly, 612 complaints, representing 94% of the total, were resolved within the targeted 100 minutes.
24X7 Complaint Monitoring System
In addition to the C-VIGIL app, a comprehensive complaint monitoring system has been established. This includes a dedicated Call Centre with the number 1950, where any member of the public or political party can lodge a complaint directly with the concerned District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer (RO). This system is now operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Major Seizures Reported
The ECI’s coordinated approach with multi-enforcement agencies across different States/UTs has yielded significant results in curtailing the use of illegal inducements. As of October 21, 2025, seizures worth over Rs 71.32 crores have been made. This includes cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and various other freebies intended for illegal distribution during the election period.
The ECI reaffirms its commitment to holding a democratic exercise marked by integrity and strict adherence to the law, urging all stakeholders to utilise the provided platforms to ensure the sanctity of the polls.
