Patna/New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the dates for the Bihar Assembly elections today (Monday) at a press conference scheduled for 4 pm at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The announcement will bring the state’s political activity into high gear, as the model code of conduct will come into effect immediately after the schedule is made public.
According to sources, the Commission is likely to hold voting in two phases, accommodating the requests made by almost all major political parties to conduct polls after the Chhath festival, one of Bihar’s most significant cultural events. The election process must be completed by November 22, 2025, when the current Assembly’s term officially ends.
Poll timeline and past precedents
The 2020 Bihar Assembly elections were held in three phases, with polling from October 20 to November 7, and results declared on November 10. In 2015, voting was conducted in five phases, from October 12 to November 5, and results were announced on November 8.
This time, the Election Commission is expected to reduce the number of phases to ensure faster completion and minimize the impact of poll-related disruptions.
CEC praises Bihar’s election readiness
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during a press conference in Patna on Sunday, said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar had been “a complete success.”
“The SIR began on June 24, 2025, and concluded on time. I thank the voters of Bihar for their cooperation. This initiative will now be implemented nationwide,” he said.
The CEC added that voters whose names, addresses, or ages have changed will receive updated voter cards within 15 days.
Nitish to lead NDA; RJD backs Tejashwi
The political landscape in Bihar has begun to take clear shape ahead of the election announcement. The NDA has confirmed that it will contest the polls under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ending earlier speculation about multiple contenders.
Senior BJP leaders, including Dharmendra Pradhan and Samrat Chaudhary, have endorsed Nitish Kumar as the coalition’s chief ministerial face, while the JDU has already launched its campaign with the slogan: “2025 to 2030 — Nitish Again.”
NDA allies, including LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan and HAM founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, have also declared support for Nitish’s leadership.
Meanwhile, the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) has yet to settle on a united chief ministerial candidate, although Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of the RJD has publicly declared himself the alliance’s face. Both the VIP and the CPI(ML) have supported him, but the Congress continues to maintain ambiguity.
Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, and Krishna Allavaru, have stated that the chief ministerial face will be decided collectively after the elections, reflecting the party’s cautious stance amid alliance negotiations.
As the Election Commission prepares to unveil the official schedule, both the ruling NDA and the Grand Alliance are expected to ramp up their campaigns across Bihar, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most closely watched elections in recent years.
