New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections on Monday at 4 p.m., setting the stage for a high-stakes political contest in the state.
The announcement is likely to be made at a press conference by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The development follows the poll panel’s review of Bihar’s preparedness, during which it met representatives of major political parties and assessed logistical arrangements. With the term of the current Assembly ending on November 22, elections must be completed before that date.
Sources said the schedule would be planned to avoid coinciding with Diwali and Chhath, which fall between October 18 and October 28, to ensure smooth polling and high voter turnout.
The 2025 elections are expected to see a fierce contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party–Janata Dal(United) alliance and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is also seeking to position itself as an alternative force in Bihar politics.
In the 2020 Assembly polls, the National Democratic Alliance won 125 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan secured 110. The RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats. That election, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, recorded a voter turnout of 56.93 per cent.
For this year’s polls, the Election Commission has introduced measures to improve the voting process. Each booth will now cater to 1,200 voters instead of 1,500, leading to an increase in the number of polling stations. This will also require additional deployment of Central Armed Police Forces to maintain security and ensure smooth conduct of elections.
Political parties are now preparing for an intense campaign, with the formal announcement of polling dates expected to kick off the electoral battle later in the day.