Two-Phase Voting Begins Nov 6 — Will Nitish Kumar Hold On?
The countdown has begun for one of India’s most politically charged elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. Voting will take place in two phases — on November 6 and November 11 — with counting scheduled for November 14.
This election is not just about numbers. It’s about shifting alliances, voter reforms, and the future of Bihar’s leadership. With 243 assembly seats up for grabs, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Key Dates and Voting Phases
- Phase 1 Voting: November 6, 2025
- Phase 2 Voting: November 11, 2025
- Counting of Votes: November 14, 2025
- Assembly Term Ends: November 22, 2025
The Election Commission has deployed 243 general observers — one for each constituency — for the first time ever. Over 90,000 polling stations will be set up across the state.
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Voter Strength and Booth Arrangements
Bihar has a total of 7.43 crore registered voters, including:
- 3.92 crore male voters
- 3.50 crore female voters
- 14 lakh first-time voters aged 18–19
To manage crowding, each polling booth will accommodate a maximum of 1,200 voters. Ramps and wheelchair access will be provided for senior citizens and voters with disabilities. For the first time, color photographs of candidates will appear on EVMs.
Political Landscape: Alliances and Shifts
The current government in Bihar is led by the NDA alliance, with Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister. However, the journey to this point has been anything but smooth:
- In 2020, no party secured a clear majority.
- JD(U) and BJP formed a coalition, with Nitish Kumar as CM.
- In 2022, Nitish switched sides to join RJD and Congress under the Mahagathbandhan.
- By January 2024, JD(U) returned to NDA, reinstating Nitish Kumar as CM.
This back-and-forth has made the 2025 elections a high-stakes battle between NDA and the INDIA bloc (RJD–Congress–Left). New entrants like AAP and Jan Suraaj are also expected to contest.
Voter List Reforms: What Is SIR?
The Election Commission launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls in June 2025 — the first such exercise in 22 years. Key outcomes:
- 68.5 lakh duplicate or outdated entries removed
- 21.53 lakh new voters added
- Final voter list published on September 30, 2025
- Political parties were given time to raise objections
Even now, voters can submit corrections or objections via the ECINET app or by dialing the voter helpline 1950.
New Election Reforms and Tech Upgrades
The Election Commission has introduced 17 new initiatives to ensure transparency and voter convenience:
- Real-time voter turnout updates via ECINET app
- Mandatory VVPAT count for mismatches
- Mobile phone deposit counters at polling stations
- Webcasting at all booths for live monitoring
- Enhanced training for booth-level officers and polling agents
- Home voting facility for voters aged 85+
These reforms aim to make Bihar’s elections a model for the rest of the country.
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