After a two-day review of electoral readiness in Patna, the Election Commission gears up to declare Bihar assembly election schedule, setting the stage for a high-stakes duel between the NDA and INDIA alliances.

Patna / Bihar, India : October 6, 2025

Patna gears up for the big reveal

The political battleground of Bihar is once again set to erupt as the Election Commission of India (ECI) prepares to announce the much-anticipated Bihar Assembly Election 2025 schedule today at 4 PM. The announcement follows two intense days of review meetings in Patna where Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and fellow officials assessed ground-level preparedness, security logistics, and administrative readiness across all 38 districts.

The term of the current 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, and the upcoming elections will determine the next government in one of India’s most politically decisive states.

The ECI has signaled that this year’s elections will incorporate 17 new reforms, including measures to enhance transparency and accessibility. Among these, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter roll—conducted for the first time in 22 years—is being hailed as a major administrative overhaul to “purify” Bihar’s electoral data by removing duplicate and inactive entries.

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Election Commission’s readiness and reforms

During its review, the Commission emphasized voter facilitation, deployment of central security forces, and digital tracking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Officials indicated that polling will likely be held in three or fewer phases—a reduction from the 2020 cycle—to ensure logistical efficiency and faster results.

To prevent overcrowding and improve voter experience, no polling booth will serve more than 1,200 voters, while newly trained Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will oversee first-time voter registrations. The ECI has also decided to include color photographs on voter slips and QR-coded EVM tracking for real-time monitoring.

CEC Kumar remarked that Bihar’s election will serve as a “model for national replication”, especially regarding clean voter lists and digital transparency. The Commission has also collaborated with the IT ministry to ensure network reliability during real-time vote transmission.

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NDA consolidates its camp

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and other regional allies—has projected confidence as the campaign season begins. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key NDA pillar, has intensified public outreach under the “Vikas aur Vishwas Yatra,” highlighting achievements in infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and social welfare schemes.

Behind the scenes, NDA partners have been negotiating a seat-sharing formula that balances caste equations and regional strengths. Sources indicate that the BJP may contest around 120 seats, JD(U) close to 100, while smaller allies will share the remaining constituencies.

Party insiders suggest that the NDA’s candidate selection will heavily feature OBC, EBC, and SC representation to expand its social coalition. Senior BJP leaders have already begun touring key constituencies, and campaign materials branded “Bihar Phir Jeetega” (Bihar will win again) are being readied for release once the poll schedule drops.

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INDIA bloc unites for the challenge

On the other side, the opposition INDIA bloc, led by RJD, Congress, CPI(M), and other Left allies, is preparing for an aggressive fightback against the NDA’s governance narrative. RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav has been spearheading the alliance’s campaign strategy under the slogan “Nayi Bihar, Nayi Sarkar,” focusing on youth employment, inflation control, and caste justice.

Seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc are nearly finalized, with RJD likely to contest a lion’s share of seats, followed by Congress and Left parties. CPI(M) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya asserted that the bloc’s unity will be “unbreakable” and the alliance will present “a real alternative to the NDA’s politics of convenience.”

The INDIA bloc has also questioned the transparency of the SIR voter roll revision, alleging that several minority and migrant voters may have been excluded. In response, the ECI maintains that the revision was conducted under full public scrutiny with booth-level verification.

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Phasing, festivals, and turnout

Insiders expect that voting may begin in late October or early November, soon after the Chhath Puja festival—a crucial period when many Bihari migrants return home. Several political parties have requested the ECI to align poll phases with the festive calendar to maximize voter turnout.

Unlike 2020, when the pandemic dictated strict restrictions, the 2025 elections will see hybrid campaigning, blending digital outreach with large physical rallies. However, the Commission has reiterated that code-of-conduct enforcement and campaign expenditure monitoring will be stricter this time.

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Key issues shaping the election

This year’s Bihar election revolves around several defining themes:

1. Governance & Development: Nitish Kumar’s infrastructure push—roads, irrigation, and digital connectivity—forms the core of the NDA’s message. INDIA bloc leaders counter that Bihar still lags in employment and industrial growth.
2. Youth & Unemployment: Nearly 60% of Bihar’s electorate is under 40. RJD and Congress are framing their narrative around job creation, while BJP emphasizes entrepreneurship and digital skills initiatives.
3. Caste Balance: Caste remains a decisive factor in Bihar’s politics. Both sides are engineering seat allocations to appeal to Yadavs, Kurmis, Dalits, and EBC communities.
4. Welfare & Inflation: Rising food prices, especially of pulses and edible oils, have provided INDIA bloc with an emotive talking point. NDA is responding by amplifying welfare programs such as PM-Kisan, Ujjwala, and PDS reforms.
5. Electoral Integrity: The revision of voter rolls and deployment of EVM-tracking systems will be closely watched as symbols of electoral transparency.

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Voices from the ground

In Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, tea vendors, rickshaw drivers, and students are already abuzz with election chatter. “Nitish ji ne sadak banwaya, par naukri nahi hai” (“Nitish ji built roads, but there are no jobs”), remarked Pankaj, a 25-year-old graduate awaiting government exam results.

Meanwhile, women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in Gaya expressed satisfaction with welfare loans and subsidized LPG, crediting the NDA government for consistent support. Such mixed grassroots sentiments indicate a closely contested battle ahead.

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What lies ahead

As the clock ticks toward 4 PM, both alliances have their war rooms on alert. Party headquarters in Patna are preparing immediate press statements once the Election Commission releases the official schedule.

Political observers believe that the Bihar 2025 election could set the tone for national politics ahead of the 2026 state polls, testing the INDIA bloc’s unity and Nitish Kumar’s legacy.

Once the schedule drops, expect campaign trails to intensify, manifestos to flood digital platforms, and Bihar’s 7-crore voters to become the center of India’s political narrative once again.

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