The Election Commission has scheduled Bihar’s assembly elections for November 6 and 11, with counting set for November 14. This announcement starts a competitive battle among the NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and newcomer Jan Suraaj.
NEW DELHI / PATNA, October 6, 2025 — The Bihar Assembly elections will take place in two phases: on November 6 and November 11, with vote counting set for November 14, according to the Election Commission.
This election is significant because it will determine whether the NDA government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stays in power or if the opposition Mahagathbandhan (RJD, Congress, and allies) can take control. A third party, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), plans to contest all 243 seats, which adds to the excitement of the elections.
Poll Schedule & Logistics
First Phase (Nov 6): Polling in 121 constituencies
Second Phase (Nov 11): Remaining 122 constituencies
Counting Date / Result: November 14
Assembly Term Ends: November 22, 2025 (elections must be done by then)
After the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) went into effect across Bihar.
Voter Rolls, Deletions & Electoral Cleanup
The final electoral roll has 7.42 crore voters after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was completed. About 69 lakh names were removed from earlier drafts.
The deletions, as stated by ECI and state officials, were mainly due to deaths, migration, duplication, or unverified citizenship. Critics, especially from the opposition, claim that the process is biased.
The Election Commission has defended the SIR, calling it a necessary cleanup of the voters’ list.
To ensure transparency, the EC has introduced 17 new initiatives for the Bihar elections. For the first time, postal ballots will be fully counted before the final results are tallied.
To verify identities, guidelines say that women entering polling booths with a burqa or veil (ghunghat) must have their identity checked according to ECI rules.
Political Stakes, Alliances & Campaign Themes
In the current 243-member assembly, the NDA has 138 seats, while its opponents hold 103 seats.
NDA camp’s narrative:
Prime Minister Amit Shah claims the NDA has saved Bihar from “Jungle Raj” and believes voters will reward “development governance.”
Leaders like Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD(U)) express confidence in achieving a larger mandate with Nitish Kumar’s continued leadership.
Opposition camp’s perspective:
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav argues that Bihar is ready for change and often calls the SIR a “fraud.”
The Congress has accused the EC of colluding with the BJP and raised concerns over electoral fairness and “vote chori” (vote theft).
Seat-sharing within Mahagathbandhan is expected to be finalized soon, with RJD pushing for Tejashwi as the chief minister.
As a wildcard, Prashant Kishor’s JSP aims to present itself as a credible choice. It remains to be seen if it will spoil votes or become a key player.
What to Watch in Coming Days
The official schedule for notification, nomination filings, scrutiny, and withdrawal dates is expected between October 10 and 23, following the EC timeline.
The distribution of constituencies for polling in both phases, especially which districts are included in Phase 2.
Monitoring efforts: deployment of poll observers, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) arrangements, and administrative planning.
Campaign themes on SIR, youth unemployment, migration, social justice, development, and identity politics.
Opinion polls and trend surveys which could influence perceptions before the elections. A recent IANS/Matrize survey indicated that 57% believe the prime minister’s popularity will significantly affect the Bihar outcome.
