Rising unemployment, demand for special status, SIR, and caste-based reservations are set to dominate the narrative in the Bihar assembly elections, as the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc prepare to fight the high-stakes polls next month.

The Election Commission on Monday announced a two-phase polls in the state, with voting to be held on November 6 and 11 and counting scheduled on November 14.

Besides Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the NDA also includes allies such as Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha, along with the BJP as the principal constituent.

As the political battleground of Bihar prepares for the upcoming Assembly polls, the spotlight is on three figures who face the acid test in this election.

 "Bihar election will set an example for the country...These elections will be a testament to the strength of democracy," said Bihar deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha.

#WATCH | Bihar to vote in two phases on 6th and 11th November, counting of votes on 14th November.
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "Bihar election will be the mother of elections. It will set an example for the country...These elections will be a testament to the strength of… pic.twitter.com/lf7w9HPfVE

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

 "I believe that the dates and two-phase polls were announced by the EC after speaking with all parties. Formation of the NDA Government with more than 2/3 votes is certain," said Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

Election Commission shares colour-coded Bihar map for polls. Yellow denotes phase 1 and pink denotes phase 2.

🗓️#SCHEDULE for the GENERAL ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BIHAR 2025 - Two Phases
Details 👇#Bihar #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/ZeTBbpX32O

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

"People can still get their names added to voter lists till 10 days before the filing of nomination papers by candidates," said Gyanesh Kumar.

"By-election in eight assembly constituencies of seven states and union territories (Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan) will be conducted on November 11. The counting will be on November 14," said the Election Commission.

BYE ELECTION IN 08 ACs OF 07 STATES/UT
Details 👇 #ByeElections pic.twitter.com/Eunli9FrMF

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

"We request all the voters to please check your name in electoral roll. If your name is not on the electoral roll, then can reach out to BLO for the name inclusion," said the poll body.

The Election Commission of India has announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted on November 6 and 11 in two phases. The counting will be on November 14.

"Bihar poll is mother of all elections, which is why total 8.5 lakh officers are deployed for Bihar elections," said Gyanesh Kumar.

The entire election machinery of Bihar is just a call away, said Gyanesh Kumar. 

The Election Commission said:

Dial 1950 (Voter Helpline)

How to connect: +91 STD Code 1950

Example: To Connect to Patna +91-612-1950

Book a call with BLO through ECINet

Election Commission announces 17 new initiatives for Bihar polls:

#Bihar First Initiatives - #Training #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/N6FnzHbM8C

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

#Bihar First Initiatives - #ElectoralRoll #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/gGn8WRmqSs

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

#Bihar First Initiatives - #ElectoralRoll #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/gGn8WRmqSs

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

#Bihar First Initiatives - #Counting #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/6QnuGpRqth

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

"Mandatory VVPAT count for mismatches between Form 17C and EVM data," said the Chief Election Commissioner

"So that the queues are not long, and efficient management of crowd, we have mandated 1,200 voters per booth," said Gyanesh Kumar.

"There will be a facility outside the voting room for voters to submit their mobile phones," said Gyanesh Kumar.

"Bihar has shown the rest of the country the path towards the purification of voter rolls," said the Chief Election Commissioner.

"In 250 poling stations, police will use horses for patrolling. Help desk, ramp, volunteers will be available on all polling stations. There will be home voting facility for voters above the age of 85 years," said Gyanesh Kumar.

"7.43 people are eligible to cast vote in Bihar. Over 90,000 polling stations will be set up and 1,044 of those will be managed by women," said Gyanesh Kumar, adding there will be "web-casting" on all polling stations to ensure smooth vigilance.

General Overview of Electors #Bihar #BiharElections2025 pic.twitter.com/QA1XQUEu5l

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2025

This time the Bihar elections will not just only be simple for the people, the polls will be conducted with peace and transparency, said Mr Kumar.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the poll body started the work on purification of the voter list from June 24. "The draft list was published on August 1 and was given to all political parties. Then appropriate time was given to everyone for claim and and objection. The final list was published on September 30. Even now if there are any claims or any names to be added, it can be added," he said.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren said the "BJP is expected to achieve a historic victory this time in Bihar".

#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: On the Election Commission announcing the Bihar election schedule today, former Jharkhand CM and BJP leader Champai Soren says, "The full election list will be released soon. The NDA alliance is very strong in Bihar. The BJP is expected to achieve a… pic.twitter.com/jh7sowBrJV

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

The BJP expressed confidence that the NDA government will be formed again in Bihar. BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, "It is a very positive development that Bihar will once again move towards a stable government. When the government is formed and work begins, progress is made swiftly in various schemes and initiatives. The announcement of the elections is a welcome step. I am fully confident that the NDA government will be formed again".

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan expressed confidence that the Mahagathbandhan will win the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, stating that the people of Bihar are "intelligent" and aware of the state's key issues.

 "Last time, the Mahagathbandhan couldn't form a government with very marginal votes...We are addressing the main issues in Bihar: employment of youth, the education system, paper leak issues, MNREGA-related concerns, and the safety of women," she told ANI.

The LJP led by Chirag Paswan will hold talks with the BJP only on assembly seats, sources said, adding the party will not demand an MLC or Rajya Sabha seat.

LJP Ram Vilas leaders will meet with Dharmendra Pradhan today or tomorrow to discuss seat sharing, they said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its first list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections.

This list includes candidates for Begusarai, Kusheshwarsthan in Darbhanga, Saraiya in Saran, Kasba in Purnia, Beni Patti in Madhubani, Phulwari Sharif and Bankipur in Patna, Kishanganj Sadar, Parihar Assembly constituency in Sitamarhi, Gobindpur in Motihari district, and Buxar Sadar.

Hours before the Election Commission announces the dates for the Bihar election, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has made a high-voltage political remark, saying that every community in Bihar has its leader, but Muslims don't.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 30 published the final electoral roll for the Bihar Assembly elections. Follow these steps to access the final voter list:

1. Visit Official Websites: Head to ceobihar.nic.in or voters.eci.gov.in for the latest electoral roll.

2. SIR Final Electoral Roll: On ceoelection.bihar.gov.in, click on SIR Final Electoral Roll w.r.t. 01.07.2025. Meanwhile, on voters.eci.gov.in, click on Download SIR Final Roll.

3. Select Details: Pick your district, assembly constituency, language and roll type (Final Roll 2025).

4. Search Options: You can search using your EPIC (Voter ID) number, mobile number (if registered), or by entering details like name, date of birth and father's name.

5. Download PDF: Select your polling station/part number, enter the captcha and download the electoral roll PDF. Click on the green highlighted box to download the SIRDraft Roll for full AC.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a section of the Patna Metro on Monday, hours ahead of the announcement of the assembly elections in the state.

A 3.45-km-long elevated corridor, covering three stations -- Patliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile, and Bhoothnath, was opened as part of the "priority corridor".

Kumar also laid the foundation stones for six underground metro stations, including Patna Junction, and a 9.35-km-long tunnel connecting them, as part of corridor 1.

Male voters also experienced substantial deletions, although less than women.

Madhubani led with the removal of 95,000 male voters (from 17.4 lakh to 16.4 lakh). Patna followed closely with a decrease of 90,000 (from 26.3 lakh to 25.4 lakh). Other districts with high deletions included Saran (86,000), Purvi Champaran (85,000), and Gopalganj (80,000).

Gopalganj reported the highest deletion of women voters, with a drop of 15.1 per cent or 1.5 lakh - from 10.3 lakh in January to 8.3 lakh in the final rolls.

Madhubani had the second-highest decline, losing 1.3 lakh women voters, while Purvi Champaran saw a decline of 6.7 per cent or 1.1 lakh voters, Saran and Bhagalpur each recorded significant losses of about 1 lakh women voters.

Interestingly, all five districts border either a neighboring state or a country - Gopalganj and Saran with Uttar Pradesh, Madhubani and Purvi Champaran with Nepal, and Bhagalpur with Jharkhand.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) released the final electoral roll for Bihar after completing the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise ahead of polls in the state. The ECI data shows a significant drop in the number of voters - the total electorate decreased by approximately 38 lakh from 7.8 crore on January 1, 2025 to 7.4 crore in the final rolls.

The impact on women voters is especially notable.

Male voters decreased by 3.8 per cent (15.5 lakh), while women voters faced a sharper decline of 6.1 per cent (22.7 lakh). The gender gap in deletions could have important political consequences since women voters are key to both major alliances in Bihar.

Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal's demand for the verification of burqa-clad voters during the upcoming Bihar election has sparked a massive row, with the RJD accusing the BJP of resorting to the politics of "hatred" and BJP's ally JDU distancing itself from the statement.

The verification of burqa-clad women at polling booths is among the several suggestions made by BJP chief Jaiswal during his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar yesterday. "Tallying of faces of voters, especially burqa-clad women, must be ensured with respective EPIC cards so that only genuine voters get to exercise their franchise," he told the media after the meeting.

Representatives of all political parties are meeting the Chief Election Commissioner in Patna to offer inputs and suggestions regarding the upcoming election.

Revision of voter lists is required before every election, and a review after the polls won't be in accordance with the law, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said today, countering the Opposition's offensive on the Special Intensive Revision in poll-bound Bihar.

The poll body chief, who was in Patna for a two-day visit to oversee preparations for the upcoming election, spoke to the media this afternoon before leaving for Delhi.

Starting his address in Bhojpuri, Kumar said the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar led to the purification of the state's voter list after 22 years.

"We congratulate the voters of India. Thank you to everyone for the successful SIR process. I appeal to all the voters of Bihar to celebrate this festival of democracy with the same enthusiasm as you celebrate Chhath. Everyone should vote and ensure their participation," he said.

The Election Commission concluded the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and released the final electoral list on September 30 amid intense scrutiny and criticism by the Opposition. The data showed a significant drop in the number of voters - the total electorate decreased by approximately 38 lakh from 7.8 crore on January 1, 2025, to 7.42 crore in the final rolls. On the final list, 21.53 lakh names were added and 3.66 lakh were removed.

It also showed that male voters decreased by 3.8 per cent (15.5 lakh), while women voters faced a sharper decline of 6.1 per cent (22.7 lakh).

The electoral battle in Bihar will witness a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the 'Mahagathbandhan' - led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The NDA currently holds 131 seats - BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two independents.

The Opposition has 111 seats - RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2.

Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj will also make its debut, contesting all 243 seats in the state.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar told reporters that the number of voters at each polling station has been capped at 1,200 and that the serial number font and candidate photos - which used to be in black and white - will now be in colour.

The Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections at 4 pm today.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has said that voting for Bihar's 243 assembly seats will be completed by November 22, when the term of the current assembly ends. Many political parties have urged the poll body to hold the election immediately after the 'Chhath Puja' festival - which will be celebrated at the end of October - to ensure greater voter participation as a large number of people employed in other states return home for festivities.