*The committee’s election will be conducted in a fair and orderly manner under the supervision of the District Magistrate.
*The election process will be completely transparent, with videography and secure recording.
April 3, Patna.
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development and Housing Minister, Mr. Vijay Kumar Sinha, informed that the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2026, provides for the election of members of the Empowered Standing Committee of a municipal body by secret ballot of elected ward councilors based on majority vote, under the supervision, direction, and control of the District Magistrate. In accordance with Section 27 (3) of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, the date for the election of the Empowered Standing Committee of the municipal body will be fixed by the State Government.
It is noteworthy that the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, dated 3/10/2025, was previously published in this regard.
After the expiration of the said ordinance on 12/01/2026, the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Bill was again introduced.
The Honorable Minister stated that the District Magistrate will notify all ward councilors at least one week in advance of the place and time for the election of members of the Empowered Standing Committee of the municipal body.
Separate elections will be held simultaneously for each vacancy of the Empowered Standing Committee member, and ballot boxes will be numbered sequentially (numbered 1, 2, 3, etc.) for each vacancy.
Mr. Sinha stated that each elected member will be able to file nominations for only one vacancy. If a ward councilor files nominations for more than one vacancy, only the nomination filed in the ballot box with the lowest number will be considered valid.
He further stated that elected ward councilors of the municipal body will cast their votes secretly in the numbered ballot boxes for the vacancies.
The District Magistrate will determine the time for voting as needed. Immediately after the voting concludes, the ballot boxes will be opened vacancy-wise in the presence of the elected ward councilors of the municipal body, and the votes will be counted, and the nominated ward councilor with the highest number of votes will be declared elected for the respective vacancy.
Mr. Sinha informed that immediately after the election process is completed, the elected members of the Empowered Standing Committee will be administered the oath of secrecy under Section 24 of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007. The entire election process will be videographed, and all records will be safely preserved until the next general election of the municipal body or until the completion of any judicial proceedings.
In accordance with the departmental notification, the Empowered Standing Committee elections will be completed in each municipal body within their district from 15.04.2026 to 20.04.2026.
The Honorable Minister informed that the District Officer will be able to depute an Assistant Election Officer and other officials and staff to assist in the election for each vacancy in the Empowered Standing Committee. The District Officer will be able to make all other appropriate arrangements for the completion of the election.