Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Key Dates Announced for Two-Phase Polling in November

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced that the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, 2025, with the counting of votes slated for November 14, 2025. This announcement marks the commencement of the electoral process to elect representatives for all 243 constituencies across Bihar.

The term of the current 243-member assembly ends on November 22, 2025, necessitating the timely conduct of elections. The ECI’s schedule includes notification dates, nomination filings, scrutiny, and withdrawal timelines for both phases, with the first phase covering 121 seats and the second phase 122 seats.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasized the scale and significance of these elections, stating that around 8.5 lakh officers will be deployed to ensure free, fair, and transparent polls. The elections are being closely monitored after extensive meetings between the ECI and state officials in Patna to review security, logistics, and enforcement readiness.

The two major political frontlines in this election are the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The NDA currently holds 131 seats, whereas the Mahagathbandhan has 111 seats.

In a push for election integrity, the ECI announced 17 new initiatives, including a major cleansing of the voter lists — the first in nearly 22 years — conducted by Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers across all constituencies.

Political parties had requested that the elections be held soon after the Chhath festival to maximize voter turnout, as many migrant workers return home for the occasion. The poll dates have accommodated this, aiming for greater participation and smooth election management.

With unemployment, special status demands, and social reservation issues prominent in public discourse, the Bihar elections are poised to be a razor-edge contest impacting not just state politics but also broader national alliances ahead of upcoming general elections.