Bihar is gearing up for the Legislative Assembly elections, with the announcement of the poll dates expected in the first week of October. The elections, which will be held for all 243 constituencies, are scheduled for October or November 2025. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for conducting the elections.
Key Developments and Preparations
The ECI has already initiated the "Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls" to ensure that all eligible citizens are enrolled. This process includes house-to-house verification. A draft electoral roll was published on August 1, 2025, and the final roll will be published on September 30, 2025, after addressing all claims and objections. According to the updated 2025 draft voter list, there are more than 72.4 million voters in Bihar. Around 6.5 million names were removed after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Documents of 98.2% of electors have already been received.
Political Landscape
The upcoming elections will see a contest between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's NDA and the opposition. In the previous assembly elections held in October–November 2020, the NDA formed the government, with Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister. However, political alliances in Bihar have been fluid. In August 2022, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) severed ties with the NDA and formed a government with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. Then, in January 2024, Nitish Kumar again switched alliances, rejoining the NDA and forming a government with the BJP.
Seat Sharing and Campaign Strategies
Seat-sharing arrangements within the NDA are currently under discussion. Recent reports suggest that the JD(U) and BJP may contest 201 seats together, leaving 42 seats for junior partners such as Chirag Paswan's LJP (R), Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM (Hindustan Awam Morcha), and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has urged voters to support him across all 243 constituencies. He has called on the people of Bihar to unite and vote for him, vowing to work towards the state's progress.
Focus on Fair Elections
District administrations are also actively involved in ensuring free and fair elections. Measures are being taken to manage candidate affidavits, maintain updated voter lists, and utilize various mobile applications for election-related activities. These apps include cVIGIL for citizens to report violations, Voter Helpline for information, and ESMS for election seizure management.
The ECI is also focusing on increasing voter awareness and participation. They are encouraging eligible citizens to enroll and verify their details in the voter list. The commission is also working to rectify any mistakes in the draft electoral rolls.
