The Election Commission of India (ECI) has said that the Bihar assembly elections in 2025 will take place in two parts: on November 6 and November 11, with the results being announced on November 14. The schedule marks the start of a high-stakes battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc, which is led by Tejashwi Yadav.
Now that the poll calendar is out, both alliances are in campaign mode, focusing on important issues like jobs, migration, governance, and corruption. The election will determine whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continues his long run in office or Bihar sees a new face in power.
ECI announces schedule, notifications and reforms
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar released the official schedule after a two-day review meeting on Bihar’s election preparedness.
Read also – Gyanesh Kumar Named 26th CEC of India, succeeding Rajiv Kumar
The notification for the first phase will be issued on October 10 for 121 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase notification will follow on October 13 for the remaining 122 seats. On November 6 and 11, people will vote, and on November 14, the votes will be counted.
The ECI has also started 17 new projects to make the election process easier and more open. These include:
- 100% webcasting at every booth for real-time monitoring.
- Colour photos of candidates printed on EVMs.
- Increased pay and allowances for polling and counting staff.
- pay and food for people who work on elections, like EROs and AEROs.
Voter-friendly steps such as mobile phone deposit counters outside polling stations have also been introduced to improve the voting experience. Kumar stressed that the goal of these changes is to make sure that elections are fair, open, and trustworthy.
Political parties react to the announcement
During the ECI’s consultations, political parties expressed differing opinions on the schedule. Some leaders requested that elections be held after Chhath Puja, Bihar’s major festival, so migrant voters could return home to cast their votes.
JD(U) urged the ECI to conduct voting in a single phase, right after Chhath. To boost voter confidence, BJP asked for more paramilitary troops to be sent to sensitive areas.
The main contest is between the INDIA bloc and the NDA.
The NDA, led by Nitish Kumar, and the INDIA bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), are going to have a direct fight in the Bihar assembly elections in 2025.
At present, NDA has 131 seats in the 243-member Assembly (BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two independents). There are 111 seats in the INDIA bloc: led by RJD (77), followed by Congress (19), CPI(ML) (11), and CPI(M) and CPI with two each.
Both sides are now trying to get their usual supporters to vote and talk to people who haven’t made up their minds yet.
Strengths and weaknesses of the INDIA bloc
The INDIA bloc is strong because it has a Muslim-Yadav (MY) voting base, which is about 30% of all the people who vote in Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav, the head of the RJD, has done a good job of making himself look like a young, active leader who young people in the state like. The Congress’ Voter Adhikar Yatra, which Rahul Gandhi led, has given grassroots workers a new sense of purpose.
But the bloc has problems within itself. RJD is still run by Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, but scandals like the “land-for-jobs” scam have hurt its reputation. Tej Pratap Yadav’s family fights often get in the way of Tejashwi’s plans for campaigning.
The biggest challenge before the election will be keeping the RJD, Congress, and Left parties together.
The NDA’s strengths and weaknesses
The NDA, which is led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is counting on its history of good governance, plans for development, and strong organization. The BJP has a strong base in backward and very backward communities thanks to its cadre network and Nitish’s long experience.
But the fear of anti-incumbency is still there. Younger voters especially worry about jobs and migration issues.
“Vote chori” campaign: a fight for trust
The “vote chori” campaign by the INDIA bloc has become a hot topic of conversation. Leaders say that manipulating EVMs and counting votes unfairly has hurt people’s faith in democracy.
In response, the Election Commission has promised full transparency by adding webcasting at the booth level and better security at counting centers. Experts say that this move is meant to directly deal with those concerns and restore trust.
If this story catches on with voters who haven’t made up their minds yet, it could affect turnout and the results in close races.
The Jan Suraaj mission of Prashant Kishor
Political strategist Prashant Kishor has launched the Jan Suraaj movement to reform governance, jobs, education, and health.
For months, Kishor has been going to villages and telling people to stop thinking about politics based on caste. His campaign pushes for government that is based on results and for citizens to be responsible.
If Kishor’s initiative manages to connect with first-time voters and the middle class, it could reshape Bihar’s political debate and influence the INDIA bloc’s messaging.
Tej Pratap Yadav’s Janshakti Janata Dal factor
In a surprise political move, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, launched his new party — Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD).
He described it as a “party for the people,” aiming to bring “clean politics” to Bihar. However, analysts believe it could split the Yadav vote and dent RJD’s traditional support base if he contests independently.
The INDIA bloc now has to deal with this new issue without looking like they are at odds with each other. Tejashwi’s decision to either make up with his brother or fight him will have a big impact on how well the bloc does.
Important dates for the Bihar assembly elections 2025
- Notification for Phase 1: October 10 (121 seats)
- Notification for Phase 2: October 13 (122 seats)
- Phase 1 voting: November 6
- Voting for Phase 2: November 11
- Officials will count votes on November 14.
With the official schedule now confirmed, parties will intensify campaigns, rallies, and online outreach by the end of October.
Things to think about before vote
As the campaign heats up, some important things to keep an eye on are:
- If the INDIA bloc’s “vote chori” campaign changes how people see things.
- How Nitish Kumar and the BJP deal with people who don’t like the current government.
- How Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement has affected young voters.
- How Tej Pratap’s new party will affect the RJD’s core vote.
- The efficiency of ECI’s new transparency reforms.
These things will decide if Bihar stays on its current path or makes a big political change.
In conclusion
The Bihar assembly elections process for 2025 has officially begun with the official notification dates of October 10 and 13. The next state election is likely to be one of the most competitive in years, with new leaders, a change in generations, and harsh language.
It will depend on unity, credibility, and public trust whether the NDA stays in power or the INDIA bloc makes a comeback.
