Bihar Assembly Polls 2025: What You Need to Know Before the Two-Phase Election

The Election Commission on Monday (October 6) announced that assembly elections in Bihar will be held in two phases, with voting on November 6 and 11, and counting of votes scheduled for November 14.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the entire election process would be completed by November 16.

“Bihar elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will be done on November 14,” Kumar said at a press conference, adding that it is mandatory to complete counting of postal ballots before the last two rounds of vote counting.

Election Schedule and Details

A total of 121 constituencies will go to polls in the first phase, while 122 constituencies will vote in the second phase. The term of the current Bihar Assembly ends on November 22. The state has 243 constituencies, including two reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 38 for Scheduled Castes.

For the first phase, the last date for filing nominations is October 17, with scrutiny on October 18 and withdrawal of candidature on October 20.
For the second phase, nominations close on October 20, scrutiny will take place on October 21, and the last date for withdrawal is October 23.

Kumar described the Bihar polls as the “mother of all elections”, with the state expected to witness a closely contested battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

Political Context: Key Players and Campaigns

The elections will test whether the opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise can gain traction or whether the NDA retains its stronghold over the state.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has led Bihar since 2005, remains at the centre of the contest, though questions about his political longevity persist. The JD(U) president, backed by a stronger-than-ever BJP, leads the NDA, which faces the RJD-led opposition alliance comprising the Congress and Left parties.

The elections are also expected to assess the political impact of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, which has been positioning itself as an alternative to the state’s two traditional coalitions. Kishor’s campaign, focused on governance and development issues, could influence outcomes in close contests.

Issues and Strategies

The opposition INDIA bloc, led by the RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, has been campaigning against the SIR, calling it an attempt at “vote manipulation”. Rahul Gandhi had earlier led a “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, alleging irregularities in the electoral roll revision. The NDA, however, maintains that the SIR aims to remove ineligible voters and ensure a clean electoral roll.

While the RJD continues to draw support from Yadavs and Muslims, the NDA’s alliance of upper castes, Kurmis, Kushwahas, and sections of Dalits and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) remains strong. The opposition has sought to expand its reach among EBCs, hoping to repeat its relative success from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where it improved its tally from one to ten seats.

Alliances and New Entrants

The NDA includes the JD(U), BJP, Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha. The RJD-led alliance retains the Congress and Left parties, while former minister Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party is now part of the opposition bloc.

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor is running his Jan Suraaj campaign independently, focusing on issues rather than caste-based politics. Political observers believe his appeal among young and urban voters could affect results in certain constituencies.

Welfare and Governance as Key Themes

The ruling NDA is expected to highlight welfare schemes for women and youth, including the Rs 10,000 direct transfer to nearly one crore women beneficiaries, along with infrastructure and road development initiatives across the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s governance record are central to the NDA’s campaign narrative, while the opposition is focusing on unemployment, inflation, and alleged irregularities in the voter roll review.

What Lies Ahead

The upcoming Bihar Assembly polls will determine whether Nitish Kumar continues as chief minister or if Tejashwi Yadav can lead the opposition to power after two decades. The elections will also reveal whether Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj can establish itself as a credible alternative in the state’s complex political landscape.

With both alliances strengthening their coalitions and new players entering the field, the Bihar elections are set to be one of the most closely watched political contests of the year.

(With inputs from agencies)