Aiming to increase voter turnout in the coming Assembly polls in Bihar, the Election Commission has planned to rope in a popular personality to publicise about exercising voting rights, as Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni had done for Jharkhand.

Dhoni's role in leading the publicity drive for Jharkhand Assembly polls last year was a great success as the voter turnout had risen significantly, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Qureshi said here today.

Stating that the EC has the same plan for Bihar, Qureshi asked mediapersons to suggest names who could be brand ambassador for the Commission in the state.

The CEC, however, evaded questions on prospective dates for the Bihar polls and, in a lighter vein, again asked the mediapersons to suggest the dates.

He said it did not matter in how many phases the polls would be completed, but the EC was concerned with only one thing -- free and fair polls in a peaceful manner.

Qureshi also expressed concern over the possible misuse of money power in the election by parties and candidates.

Besides a mandatory guideline, the EC has taken a slew of measures like day-to-day expenses of candidates to be monitored by district poll officials, appointment of central observers for the specific purpose, video surveillance on candidates/ parties, and deployment of micro observers to keep a tab on the expenses, he said.

On publication of paid news for campaigning, Qureshi said it could be brought under control if various stakeholders wanted to end the malpractice.

Over the deployment of central para-military forces on all polling booths as desired by the parties, he said such deployment would depend on their availability.