Bihar is likely to go to polls in three phases from November 5 to 15, sources said, as the term of the current Assembly is set to end on November 22, 2025. The Election Commission is required to complete the election process before that date.
The Assembly elections are expected to take place after Chhath Puja, which falls on October 28, officials added. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is scheduled to visit Bihar next week to review poll preparations and the final voter list, which will be published on September 30.
Political tensions have risen following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise, during which 6.5 million names were removed from the draft voter roll. The INDIA bloc has criticised the poll body, alleging that the exercise was used to exclude legitimate voters.
The Supreme Court has warned that it could invalidate the entire process, even after the final voter list is published, if any illegality is found.
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Following precedent, Bihar is expected to see multi-phase polling. In 2020, elections were held in three phases, with 71 seats voting on October 28, 94 on November 3, and 78 on November 7. Results were declared on November 10. In 2015, polling had been conducted over five phases.
The upcoming contest is likely to be fought between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition-led INDIA bloc.
The NDA, comprising the BJP, Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas), is seeking another term under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Opposition, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) along with Congress and Left parties, aims to unseat him.
In the 243-member House, the NDA currently holds a majority with 131 members — BJP 80, JD(U) 45, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 4, and support from two Independents. The INDIA bloc has 111 MLAs, with the RJD holding 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2.
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