Schedule for Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Announced

On October 6, 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) finally unveiled the long-awaited schedule for the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. In a press conference that had politicians, pundits, and the public glued to their screens, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that polling would unfold in two phases: November 6 and November 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14. This timeline, just weeks away, ensures the 243-member assembly—whose term expires on November 22—gets a fresh mandate without unnecessary delays.

For Bihar, a state synonymous with political intrigue, economic grit, and social transformation, these elections aren’t just about seats; they’re a referendum on governance, alliances, and the aspirations of over 7.43 crore voters. With 14 lakh first-time voters stepping into the fray, the youth pulse of the state will beat louder than ever. But as the dates sink in, one can’t help but wonder: Will this be Nitish Kumar’s swansong, Tejashwi Yadav’s breakout, or a wildcard disruption from emerging players?

The Schedule at a Glance: Swift and Strategic

Unlike the three-phase marathon of the 2020 elections—marred by the COVID-19 shadow—this edition promises efficiency with just two phases. Here’s the breakdown:

• Gazette Notification (Phase 1): October 10, 2025
• Last Date for Nominations (Phase 1): October 17, 2025
• Counting of Votes: November 14, 2025 (Friday)
• Model Code of Conduct: Takes effect immediately after the announcement, putting the ruling NDA on notice.

The ECI has ramped up transparency measures, including 100% webcasting from polling booths (up from 50% in 2020), color photos of candidates on EVMs (replacing blurry black-and-white images), and mobile phone deposit facilities at stations for smoother verification. Over 90,000 polling booths will be scattered across the landscape, with Aanganwadi workers assisting in identity checks for burqa-clad voters—a nod to inclusivity in a diverse state. And let’s not forget the bypolls: Eight assembly seats across seven states/UTs will vote on November 11, syncing neatly with Bihar’s Phase 2.

Chief Election Commissioner Kumar hailed these polls as potentially “the most transparent, secure, and easy elections in the history of Indian elections.” With the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls completed—after a 22-year gap—the voter list stands “purified,” though not without drama (more on that below).

A Quick Recap: From 2020’s Fractured Mandate to 2025’s High Stakes

Flashback to 2020: Bihar’s last assembly polls delivered a hung verdict. The NDA, led by Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP, scraped through with 125 seats (JD(U): 43, BJP: 74). The opposition Mahagathbandhan—RJD (75 seats), Congress (19), and Left parties (16)—fell just short at 110. Tejashwi Yadav, then a rising star at 31, emerged as the chief ministerial face, nearly toppling the veterans.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the chessboard has flipped multiple times. Nitish Kumar, the “Sushasan Babu” (good governance man), has flip-flopped alliances like a pro: Ditching the BJP in 2022 to join the RJD, only to realign with the NDA in January 2024 amid whispers of health woes and political isolation. At 74, questions swirl—will this be his final rodeo? The NDA’s slogan of “stability and development” banks on Nitish’s longevity, but cracks show: BJP’s aggressive push for a full majority hints at sidelining their ally.

On the flip side, the RJD-led INDIA bloc eyes a comeback, leveraging Tejashwi’s youth appeal and promises of jobs (remember the 10-lakh employment pledge?). Rahul Gandhi’s August rally in Bihar, railing against voter list “manipulations,” has energized the base. Yet, the bloc grapples with Congress’s waning clout and seat-sharing squabbles.

The Wild Cards: Prashant Kishor, AIMIM, and Voter List Sagas

No Bihar election is complete without disruptors. Enter Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist turned kingmaker (or wannabe?). His Jan Suraaj party, launched as a “political startup,” dropped a bombshell: A full candidate list reveal on October 9, promising “surprises” across all 243 seats. Kishor, who orchestrated JD(U)’s 2010 win and BJP’s 2014 sweep, now positions himself as an anti-establishment force. If he gains even 5-10% of the votes, it could splinter the opposition’s math.

Then there’s Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, which bagged five seats in 2020’s Seemanchal. Snubbed by the INDIA bloc, Owaisi kicked off a “Seemanchal Nyay Yatra” in August, signaling an all-out push in Muslim-dominated pockets. This could fragment anti-NDA votes, a boon for the ruling coalition.

Lurking in the shadows? The voter list controversy. The SIR exercise, mandated in June, required fresh forms from all voters—a first in decades. RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav claimed his name (and thousands of others’) was mysteriously axed, brandishing a “fake” EPIC number in a media blitz. The ECI fired back, calling it “factually incorrect” and demanding the surrender of the card. Rahul Gandhi piled on, demanding reforms. While the ECI insists the rolls are robust (with 7.43 crore names), trust deficits could suppress turnout or fuel legal battles.

What’s at Stake? Beyond the Ballots

Bihar’s elections are more than arithmetic; they’re a mirror to India’s fault lines. Economy: The state, once mocked as BIMARU (sick), has clocked 10%+ GDP growth under Nitish, but youth unemployment hovers at 18%. Migration to Delhi and the Gulf states persists, and floods ravage the north every year. Will voters reward infrastructure projects (roads, bridges) or demand job creation?

Social equity: With 38 SC and 2 ST reserved seats, the voices of Dalits and tribes matter. Caste census demands (pushed by Nitish in 2023) could reshape alliances. Women’s safety, education (Bihar’s literacy rate lags at 70%), and climate resilience are key issues.

Nationally, a strong NDA win bolsters Modi’s 2029 ambitions; an opposition upset revives the INDIA front. As Union Minister Giriraj Singh crowed, “NDA with 2/3 majority is certain.” Congress’s Pawan Khera countered with barbs at the ECI’s “compromised” impartiality, alleging last-minute funding delays.

The Road to November: A Voter’s Call to Arms

As posters sprout on Patna’s walls and rallies echo in Bihar’s 2025 polls promise fireworks. From the banks of the Ganges to the floodplains of the Kosi, 7.43 crore voices will decide whether continuity trumps change.