Political parties across Bihar have unanimously urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the upcoming state Assembly elections immediately after the Chhath festival, which this year will be celebrated on October 28. They argued that scheduling the elections post-Chhath would ensure maximum voter participation, as many migrant workers return home during this major festival. Several parties also pressed the Commission to minimise the number of polling phases, emphasising that a shorter election schedule would allow for smoother voting, counting, and overall logistics management, while reducing political tension and administrative burden.
In a key consultation meeting held between the ECI and representatives of various national and state parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, National People's Party, CPI(ML) Liberation, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, participants put forward their suggestions regarding the election timeline and conduct. The primary consensus was that the election should be held soon after Chhath and completed swiftly, to ensure convenience for voters and efficiency for the poll machinery.
Janata Dal (United) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha strongly advocated for a single-phase election, arguing that Bihar currently faces no significant law and order or Naxal issues that would necessitate multi-phase polling. He pointed out that if a state as large as Maharashtra could hold its elections in one phase, there was no reason Bihar could not do the same. Jha also appealed to the ECI to take into account the timing of major festivals like Diwali and Chhath, noting that many Bihari migrants travel back to their hometowns during this period and should be allowed the opportunity to vote before returning to their workplaces in other states. Additionally, he urged for robust paramilitary deployment at polling booths to ensure that voters can cast their ballots freely and without fear or intimidation.
Sources cited by India Today indicated that the Bihar Assembly elections are likely to be held between November 5 and 15, immediately following the festival season. The current Assembly’s term is set to expire on November 22, 2025, meaning the Election Commission must conclude the election process before that deadline. However, recent controversies surrounding the voter list revision exercise have cast a shadow over the poll preparations. The ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise reportedly led to the deletion of over 65 lakh names from the draft voter roll, sparking strong objections from the Opposition INDIA bloc, which accused the Commission of manipulating the process to disenfranchise genuine voters. The Supreme Court has since warned that it may nullify the entire revision if irregularities are confirmed, even after publication of the final roll.
Meanwhile, the ECI has instructed senior officials — including Commissioners, Inspectors General, District Election Officers, and Superintendents of Police — to strengthen surveillance and swiftly counter misinformation on social media platforms during the election period. The Commission emphasized the need for prompt fact-checking and legal action against the spread of fake news that could influence voter perception or disrupt the electoral process.
Historically, Bihar has witnessed multi-phase elections to accommodate its vast and diverse electorate. The 2020 Assembly polls were held in three phases — on October 28, November 3, and November 7 — with results declared on November 10. Similarly, the 2015 elections were spread over five phases. Despite calls for a single-phase vote this time, officials have hinted that multi-phase polling may continue to ensure administrative smoothness and security coverage.
As Bihar heads toward another high-stakes election, the contest is expected to be primarily between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc. The NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), aims to secure another term under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In contrast, the INDIA bloc, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal along with the Congress and Left parties, is seeking to unseat the incumbent government. Currently, the NDA holds a majority in the 243-member Bihar Assembly with 131 MLAs, while the INDIA bloc commands 111 seats. The upcoming elections, therefore, are set to determine the future of Bihar’s political direction and leadership for the next five years.
