(Image source from: x.com/ECISVEEP)
The Election dates for Bihar will be announced at 4 pm today by the Election Commission of India. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that the voting process for the 243 assembly seats in Bihar will wrap up by November 22, coinciding with the end of the current assembly's term. Numerous political parties have requested the election commission to conduct the election right after the 'Chhath Puja' festival, which falls at the end of October. This timing is suggested to boost voter turnout, as many individuals working in different states return home to celebrate. In a press conference about the preparations for the Bihar elections, Gyanesh Kumar expressed his respect for Indian voters and thanked everyone for the successful Special Intensive Revision process. He encouraged all Bihar voters to participate in the democratic celebration with the same excitement as they do during Chhath. He also mentioned that each polling station will now have a maximum of 1,200 voters, and the candidate photos and serial number font will change from black and white to color. Gyanesh Kumar responded to the Opposition's criticism regarding the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar, pointing out that updating voter lists is necessary before every election and that evaluations post-election would not follow legal guidelines.
The election contest in Bihar will be directly between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the 'Mahagathbandhan' coalition, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Currently, the NDA possesses 131 seats, with the BJP holding 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two independents. The Opposition has a total of 111 seats, with RJD claiming 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2. Political activities have ramped up in the state, with both NDA and Opposition conducting large-scale campaigns while exchanging accusations. The 2020 assembly elections in Bihar took place in three stages due to the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing the NDA to keep power and form a government with Nitish Kumar at its head. In 2022, Nitish Kumar severed ties with the NDA to establish a government alongside the RJD-led 'Mahagathbandhan'. Then, in 2024, he switched alliances again, parting ways with the 'Mahagathbandhan' and rejoining the NDA.
The Election Commission wrapped up the Special Intensive Revision and published the final voter list on September 30 amidst considerable scrutiny from the Opposition. The figures revealed a notable decline in the voter count; the total number dropped by about 38 lakh, decreasing from 7.8 crore on January 1, 2025, to 7.42 crore in the final tally. The final records indicate that 21.53 lakh names were added while 3.66 lakh were taken off the list. Moreover, the number of male voters declined by 3.8 percent (15.5 lakh), while female voters experienced a steeper drop of 6.1 percent (22.7 lakh). The Opposition, questioning the timing of these changes, organized a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, led by Rahul Gandhi from Congress and Tejashwi Yadav from RJD.
