As Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for October or November 2025, a difference of opinion has emerged between key allies within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding the poll schedule. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is advocating for a two-phase election, while the Janata Dal (United) [JDU] is pushing for the entire electoral process to be completed in a single phase.
The BJP believes that limiting the election to a maximum of two phases would reduce expenditure and minimize disruption to development work. State BJP president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal emphasized the need for proper identity verification for burqa-clad women voters and sufficient security deployment to ensure full participation. Echoing this sentiment, other parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), CPI-ML, and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have also expressed their support for a maximum of two phases. A BJP functionary, Kumar Pervez, argued that multiple phases could enable ruling parties to transport fake voters.
Conversely, the JDU, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is in favor of conducting the elections in a single phase, citing the improved law and order situation in Bihar. The party also highlighted the return of Bihar migrants for the Chhath festival, suggesting that their participation could be crucial in boosting voter turnout. According to JDU state president Umesh Kushwaha, the party has urged the Election Commission to announce the election schedule soon after the Chhath festival to accommodate voters coming from outside the state. The Chhath festival is scheduled for October 28. The JDU argues that if states like Maharashtra can hold elections in a single phase, Bihar can do the same.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently assessing the poll preparedness in Bihar and is expected to announce the election dates soon. The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22, 2025, and the ECI is mandated to complete the election process before that date. In the past, Bihar elections have been conducted in multiple phases. The 2020 elections, held under COVID-19 restrictions, took place in three phases, while the 2015 and 2010 elections were conducted in five and six phases, respectively.
The differing views on the poll schedule reflect the complex dynamics within the NDA coalition. While the BJP aims to consolidate its position and potentially increase its seat share, the JDU is keen to leverage its governance record and ensure maximum participation of its support base. The NDA secured 125 seats in the 2020 assembly elections, with the BJP winning 74 and the JDU securing 43.
Beyond the debate over the number of phases, parties have also raised other concerns with the ECI. The BJP has demanded increased security measures, including flag marches by central paramilitary forces in Dalit, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) dominated areas, and patrolling in riverine belts to prevent booth capturing. The Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) also voiced concerns about the law and order situation in the state.
The opposition INDIA bloc, led by the RJD along with Congress and Left parties, is aiming to unseat the incumbent government. The Congress and RJD have released the first part of their joint election manifesto, focusing on announcements for the EBCs, including reservations in municipal bodies and panchayati institutions, as well as free land for homeless individuals from EBC, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe categories.
As the election draws closer, the political atmosphere in Bihar is heating up, with all major alliances strategizing to gain an edge. The NDA will rely on its combined strength, uniting upper castes (BJP), Kurmis and EBCs (JD(U)), Paswans (LJP), and Mahadalits (HAM). The election's outcome will depend on various factors, including caste dynamics, alliance strategies, and the ability of parties to address key issues such as development, employment, and social justice.
