PATNA: The electoral battlefield in Bihar has formally opened today with the commencement of the first phase of nominations for the upcoming Assembly elections. Candidates for 121 seats across 18 districts have officially begun filing their papers, setting the stage for the crucial contest between the NDA and the Grand Alliance.
The first phase is scheduled for voting on November 6. The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the tight timeline for the process and deployed an unprecedented security and administrative apparatus to ensure a fair and peaceful election.
“Every measure has been taken to maintain fairness, transparency, and security throughout the electoral process,” an Election Commission official said, adding that this election will see “the highest level of monitoring and surveillance ever implemented in Bihar.”
Nomination Schedule and Key Dates
Candidates can file their nomination papers between 11 am and 3 pm. The window for the first phase closes on October 17.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Nominations | October 17 |
| Scrutiny of Nomination Papers | October 18 |
| Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidacy | October 20 |
| End of Campaigning | 5 pm, November 4 |
| Voting Day | November 6 |
Unprecedented Security and Observer Deployment
Get ready for the #Assembly Elections 🗓️
Check out the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly 2025 in #Bihar #ECI #Elections2024 #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/2iqCcc8yem
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 7, 2025
The Election Commission has announced massive security and logistical preparations, deploying over 8.5 lakh personnel for the first phase. This total includes 2.5 lakh police personnel and 4.53 lakh polling personnel.
In a first, a General Observer has been appointed for each of the 243 assembly constituencies across the state to act as the “eyes and ears of the Election Commission.” Additionally, 38 police observers and 67 expenditure observers are on duty to monitor compliance and fairness.
Designated Nomination Centres Across Patna
Separate nomination locations have been set up for each assembly constituency:
- Integrated Building, Mokama
- SDO Office, Bakhtiyarpur
- DCLR Office, Digha
- Collectorate, Bankipur and Kumhrar
- SDO Office, Patna City (Patna Sahib)
- SDO Office, Danapur
- ADM Supply Office, Fatuha
- SDO Office, Masaurhi
- DCLR Offices, Paliganj and Bikram
Strict Rules for Filing in Patna
In the Patna district, where nominations have begun across all 14 assembly constituencies, security around the Collectorate premises has been significantly tightened.
Candidates facing the Digha, Bankipur, Kumhrar, and Patna Sahib seats, among others, must adhere to strict protocols:
- Vehicle Limit: Candidates are restricted to a maximum of three vehicles and must park them 100 meters from the nomination site.
- Aides Limit: Only a maximum of five people will be allowed to accompany the candidate into the nomination room.
- Weapons Ban: Entry with any weapon, including licensed firearms, is strictly prohibited for candidates and their supporters.
- Emergency Services: A full emergency setup, including security forces, female police officers, a fire brigade, an ambulance, and a medical team, has been deployed to handle any exigencies.
The expenditure limit for candidates has been set at Rs 40 lakh. General category candidates must pay a fee of Rs 10,000, while SC/ST candidates are required to pay Rs 5,000.
As the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described earlier, the Bihar polls are expected to be the “mother of all elections”—a massive logistical and political exercise that will test both the state’s administrative readiness and its political pulse.
