Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that polling for the Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases — on November 6 and 11 — with the results to be declared on November 14. This marks the first time in four decades that Bihar will witness elections conducted in just two phases.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said voting will take place for 121 seats in the first phase and 122 seats in the second phase. The model code of conduct has already come into effect, giving the state exactly one month to prepare for the first round of voting.
Two-Phase Polling Pattern After 40 Years
Traditionally, elections in Bihar were held in multiple phases due to security challenges and logistical constraints. The move to conduct the 2025 elections in two phases marks a major operational shift.
Interestingly, the pattern of voting regions has also changed. While Magadh and Shahabad in South Bihar usually voted first in previous elections, this time the Tirhut, Mithila, and Kosi regions of North Bihar will go to polls in the first phase.
Phase 1: NDA Strongholds Go to Polls First
Voting on November 6 will cover Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria, Gopalganj, Munger, Nalanda, and Sheikhpura, where the NDA holds a dominant position.
As per 2020 data, the NDA controls:
- 9 of 10 seats in Darbhanga
- 5 of 10 in Samastipur
- 6 of 7 in Nalanda
- 1 of 2 in Sheikhpura
- 2 of 3 in Munger
- 2 of 4 each in Khagaria and Madhepura
- 3 of 4 in Saharsa
Of the 121 seats in Phase 1, around 70 fall in Tirhut and Mithila, where the NDA holds 39 seats. The second phase, scheduled for November 11, will cover most constituencies in Magadh, Anga Pradesh, and Shahabad.
Phase 2: Border Districts and Sensitive Areas
The second phase will include districts along Bihar’s borders with Nepal, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, considered sensitive zones.
According to experts, simultaneous voting in border districts will make it easier to deploy paramilitary forces and election staff efficiently.
Areas bordering West Bengal and Bangladesh, especially Seemanchal, are viewed as sensitive due to issues like infiltration raised by the BJP. Similarly, Jamui, Banka, and Nawada, which border Jharkhand, are prone to Naxal activity, requiring tighter security.
What Experts Say
Senior journalist Indra Bhushan notes that this time, “The Grand Alliance’s strongholds have been divided strategically. South Bihar’s core areas like Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, and Nawada will vote later, while Buxar, Bhojpur, Nalanda, and Patna are in the first phase.”
Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi told reporters that conducting elections in fewer phases is a “positive sign of improved law and order.”
He added, “Earlier, Bihar needed five to ten phases due to booth violence. Now, with stronger paramilitary deployment, elections can be completed faster.”
Security and Logistics
Qureshi said the state will require 80 to 100 companies of paramilitary forces for two-phase polling. Each company comprises around 80–85 personnel. With no major elections elsewhere in the country during this period, the ECI is expected to have adequate security availability.
Impact of a Shorter Election Cycle
The former CEC explained that shorter elections reduce costs and minimize the administrative paralysis caused by the model code of conduct.
“In the era of social media, faster elections also help the Election Commission curb misinformation, hate speech, and fake news,” Qureshi added.
Campaign Intensity Already at Peak
Political analysts say both ruling and opposition camps have been in campaign mode for months.
Senior journalist Arun Kumar Pandey observed that the Nitish Kumar government has “proactively reached out to farmers, students, youth, and women,” launching several schemes just before the poll announcement.
Indra Bhushan added, “The Chief Minister, Prime Minister, and Tejashwi Yadav have been actively campaigning for six months. No side appears weak this time, though the ruling NDA may gain from its groundwork.”
Election History: From 5 Phases to 2
In 2015, the elections were held in five phases, in which the BJP won only 53 of 157 seats, despite having the highest vote share (25%).
In 2020, voting took place in three phases — on October 28, November 3, and November 7 — with results declared on November 10.
That year, the RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, while the BJP followed closely with 74.
With just two phases of polling and a shorter campaign window, the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are poised to test the organizational strength of both alliances.
While the NDA begins with a regional advantage in the first phase, the Grand Alliance hopes to consolidate its presence in the later rounds.
The results on November 14 will reveal whether this new election formula reshapes Bihar’s political landscape once again.
