The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially set the stage for one of the most anticipated political battles of the year — the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. On Monday, the Commission announced that voting in Bihar will take place in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14.

The announcement has kicked off full-fledged election fever across the state as political parties — from the ruling NDA to the opposition INDIA bloc — gear up for an intense showdown. The current 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly’s term ends on November 22, leaving the poll body with a narrow window to complete the electoral process.

Election Schedule and Context

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, unveiled the election timeline following extensive reviews held in Patna over the weekend. Their meetings with top state officials focused on assessing security preparedness, logistics, and law enforcement mechanisms to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections.

The Election Commission said it considered the political parties’ request to hold polls immediately after the Chhath festival, a period when thousands of migrants return home to celebrate with their families. Holding elections around this time, the Commission noted, would likely increase voter participation across the state.

CEC Kumar, addressing the media in New Delhi, emphasized that the poll process will be transparent, secure, and voter-centric. He added, “Every step of this election, from polling to counting, will reflect our commitment to fairness and inclusivity.”

Key Dates for Bihar Assembly Elections 2025

• Phase 1 Polling: November 6, 2025 (121 constituencies)

  • Notification: October 10

  • Last date for nominations: October 17

  • Scrutiny of nominations: October 18

  • Last date for withdrawal: October 20

• Phase 2 Polling: November 11, 2025 (122 constituencies)

  • Notification: October 13

  • Last date for nominations: October 20

  • Scrutiny of nominations: October 21

  • Last date for withdrawal: October 23

• Counting of Votes: November 14, 2025

• Completion of Election Process: November 16, 2025

Voter Statistics: Bihar’s Massive Electorate

Bihar will witness one of the largest electoral exercises in the country, with over 7.42 crore registered voters eligible to cast their votes. CEC Gyanesh Kumar shared that this includes 3.92 crore men, 3.5 crore women, and 14 lakh first-time voters.

“Nearly 14,000 voters in the state are aged above 100 years,” he revealed, emphasizing the inclusivity of the electoral process. The Commission has also identified around 4 lakh senior citizen voters.

To accommodate this massive electorate, 90,712 polling stations will be set up across Bihar. The poll body has also deleted 69 lakh names from the rolls due to deaths, migration, duplication, or loss of citizenship, following a detailed Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list conducted earlier this year.

The final voter list was released on September 30, after revisions that began on June 24, 2025, and a public feedback window that closed on September 1. Kumar assured citizens that “the window for objections to additions or deletions in the voter list remains open at the district level.”

New Election Measures and Security Arrangements

To ensure smooth conduct, the Election Commission announced several new measures and technological upgrades.

One significant feature is that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will now display colored photographs of candidates, their party symbols, and bold serial numbers — a move aimed at minimizing voter confusion.

Additionally, 243 general observers, 38 police observers, and 67 expenditure observers will oversee the elections, acting as the “eyes and ears” of the Commission. Over 500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) — including 121 from the CRPF and around 400 from the BSF — will be deployed to maintain law and order.

CEC Kumar also announced that booth-level officers will now carry ID cards for easy identification, while voters’ mobile phones will be submitted outside polling booths to ensure secrecy.

For the first time, Aanganwadi workers will assist polling officers in verifying the identities of burqa-clad and ghunghat-covered women voters inside polling stations. “There are clear guidelines for identity verification, and they will be strictly followed,” Kumar asserted.

He further clarified that CCTV footage of polling stations would not be shared publicly to protect voter privacy: “CCTV footage is equivalent to Form 17A, which is not shared with any political party. Only high courts can request such data.”

Phase-Wise Breakdown: Key Constituencies and Candidates

Phase 1 – November 6, 2025 (121 Constituencies)

Some of the most high-profile seats in this phase include:

• Raghopur (RJD): Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

• Begusarai (BJP): Kundan Kumar

• Khagaria (INC): Chhatrapati Yadav

• Ujairpur (RJD): Alok Kumar Mehta

• Lakhisarai (BJP): Vijay Kumar Sinha

• Hilsa (JD-U): Krishnamurari Sharan

• Nalanda (JD-U): Shrawon Kumar

• Patna Sahib (BJP): Nand Kishore Yadav

• Arrah (BJP): Amrendra Pratap Singh

• Buxar (INC): Sanjay Kumar Tiwari

Phase 2 – November 11, 2025 (122 Constituencies)

Key constituencies include:

• Valmikinagar (JD-U): Dhirendra Pratap Singh

• Kargahar (INC): Santosh Kumar Mishra

• Bettiah (BJP): Renu Devi

• Motihari (BJP): Pramod Kumar

• Madhubani (RJD): Samir Kumar Mahaseth

• Kishanganj (INC): Ijaharul Husain

• Purnea (BJP): Vijay Kumar Khemka

• Imamganj (HAM-S): Deepa Kumari

Political Landscape: NDA vs INDIA Bloc

In the current assembly, the NDA holds a majority with 131 MLAs — including 80 from the BJP, 45 from JD(U), and 4 from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. The NDA also enjoys the support of two Independent legislators.

The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (now under the broader INDIA bloc) has 111 MLAs — comprising 77 from RJD, 19 from Congress, 11 from CPI(ML), 2 from CPI(M), and 2 from CPI.

Seat-sharing talks for both alliances are expected to conclude this week. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “Our seat-sharing formula is in its final stage. We’ll announce it soon.”

Meanwhile, JD(U)’s working president Sanjay Kumar Jha demanded single-phase elections, arguing, “Bihar has no law and order problem or Naxal violence. If Maharashtra can have single-phase polls, why not Bihar?”

Festival Season and Voter Turnout

Political parties have welcomed the EC’s timing, expecting high voter turnout due to the festive season. BJP MP Vivek Thakur from Nawada remarked, “Chhath is when all public meetings stop. Candidates move around the ghats as thousands gather to offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun.”

The return of nearly 10 million migrant workers during Chhath is expected to reshape voter dynamics and boost participation, especially in rural constituencies.

By-Elections in Other States

Alongside the Bihar polls, the EC will hold by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan.

In Odisha, a by-election in Nuapada will occur following the death of MLA Rajendra Dholakia. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Budgam and Nagrota constituencies will go to polls due to the resignation of Omar Abdullah and the death of Devender Singh Rana, respectively.

All these by-elections are scheduled for November 11, with counting on November 14.

AAP and Jan Suraaj Enter the Fray

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced it will contest all 243 seats in Bihar, releasing its first list of 11 candidates. The list includes:

Dr Meera Singh (Begusarai), Yogi Chaupal (Kurushewar), Amit Kumar Singh (Taraiya), Bhanu Bhartiya (Kasba), Shubhda Yadav (Benipatti), Arun Kumar Rajak (Phulwari), Pankaj Kumar (Bankipur), Ashraf Alam (Kishanganj), Akhilesh Narayan Thakur (Parihar), Ashok Kumar Singh (Govindganj), and Capt Dharmraj Singh (Buxar).

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor will also make his electoral debut with his Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), contesting independently across all 243 seats. “We’ll either come first or last — no middle ground,” Kishor declared, emphasizing his bid to break the traditional JD(U)-RJD duopoly.

EC’s Crackdown on Fake News

In response to growing misinformation, CEC Gyanesh Kumar warned that fake news and misleading claims on social media would be countered strictly. “We’ve seen attempts to mislead voters, especially regarding the SIR and EVMs. The Commission will take firm action against such misinformation,” he said.

Horse Patrols, Boat Travel, and Polling Logistics

Highlighting Bihar’s geographical diversity, the Commission revealed some unique logistical measures:

• Horse patrols will be deployed in 250 polling stations, especially in hilly terrains.

• Polling teams will travel by boat to 197 riverine polling stations to ensure no voter is left behind.

CEC Kumar called this a “testament to India’s commitment to universal adult franchise, no matter how remote the location.”

The Big Players and What’s at Stake

• Nitish Kumar – The Battle for Legacy

For Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, this election is both a battle for legacy and relevance. At 74, and after two decades of rule, Nitish faces a strong anti-incumbency wave and questions over his age and leadership stamina.

This will be his tenth bid for the Chief Minister’s office, and perhaps the toughest. Once hailed as the ‘Vikas Purush’ (Man of Development), Nitish now faces criticism over political flip-flops that earned him the nickname “Paltu Ram.” The 2025 verdict will determine whether Nitish retains his grip on Bihar politics or fades into history — and whether the JD(U) can maintain its clout against its ally, the BJP.

• Tejashwi Yadav – The Challenger

For Tejashwi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, this election is a defining moment. After leading the RJD to emerge as the single-largest party in 2020 with 75 seats, Tejashwi now seeks to capitalize on anti-incumbency against Nitish.

“This is the people’s chance for change,” he said, urging youth and marginalized voters to rally behind him. The election will test his ability to manage coalition unity, expand beyond the Yadav-Muslim base, and establish himself as a credible pro-development alternative.

• Rahul Gandhi – The National Stakes

For Rahul Gandhi, Bihar 2025 will be a referendum on his leadership of the Congress and the INDIA bloc. With recent setbacks in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi, Congress’s performance in Bihar will shape its national revival narrative.

Rahul’s direct engagement through the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ and his outreach to Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) under the ‘Atipichhda Nyay Sankalp’ manifesto reflect a deeper investment in Hindi heartland politics. Whether these efforts translate into votes remains to be seen.

• Chirag Paswan – The Kingmaker Test

Chirag Paswan, despite impressive Lok Sabha results, faces the challenge of proving his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is more than a spoiler. If he manages to win a significant number of assembly seats, he could transform from a bargaining ally in Delhi to a power broker in Patna.

• Prashant Kishor – The Disruptor

For Prashant Kishor, this election is a bold experiment — a high-risk, high-reward attempt to establish his Jan Suraaj Party as a fresh political force. Having worked behind the scenes as a strategist, Kishor now steps into the electoral battlefield himself. His success or failure will decide whether Jan Suraaj becomes a permanent fixture in Bihar politics or fades into obscurity.

Bihar Set for a Landmark Electoral Battle

As Bihar heads toward a two-phase election on November 6 and 11, all eyes are on the NDA vs INDIA showdown that could reshape the state’s political future. With 7.4 crore voters, 90,000 polling stations, and hundreds of candidates in the fray, the election promises high stakes, intense drama, and a test of credibility for every major political force.

The results on November 14, 2025, will not only decide who rules Bihar for the next five years but also influence the national political landscape as India inches closer to the 2026 general elections.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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