Bihar is gearing up for a high-stakes assembly election in October-November 2025, with the Election Commission announcing the schedule on October 6, 2025. The polls for the 243-member assembly will be held in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. The term of the current assembly ends on November 22, 2025.
The primary contest is expected to be between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan, also known as the INDIA bloc. However, political strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is also set to make its electoral debut, adding a third dimension to the battle.
NDA vs. INDIA Bloc: A Familiar Face-Off
The NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, currently holds 131 seats in the assembly. The alliance includes Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular). The Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has 111 seats. Other parties in the alliance include the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Communist Party of India.
In the 2020 elections, the NDA secured a narrow victory with 125 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan won 110. Nitish Kumar assumed the Chief Minister's office. However, Bihar's political landscape has shifted since then. In August 2022, Kumar severed ties with the NDA and formed a government with the RJD. Then, in January 2024, he rejoined the NDA. These dramatic shifts highlight the fluidity of political alliances in the state.
Jan Suraaj: The X-Factor
Prashant Kishor, a well-known election strategist, has launched the Jan Suraaj Party, adding a new element to the electoral equation. Kishor aims to provide an alternative to the established alliances, focusing on a platform for individuals seeking to improve Bihar. Kishor claims that Jan Suraaj is cutting into the vote share of both NDA and INDIA bloc.
Key Issues and Challenges
The election is expected to revolve around issues such as development, social justice, and governance. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is taking measures to ensure free, fair, and smooth elections, including enhanced voter list management and webcasting. CEC Gyanesh Kumar has affirmed the commitment to conduct the elections with complete transparency.
Political parties have been actively campaigning, trading charges, and strategizing for the upcoming elections. The final electoral roll, published on September 30, includes 7.42 crore electors.
As Bihar heads towards the 2025 elections, the key question remains: Will Nitish Kumar retain power, or will Tejashwi Yadav lead the INDIA bloc to victory? Or, will Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj emerge as a kingmaker, reshaping Bihar's political future?
