Bihar to vote on November 6, 11; results on 14
Over 7.4 crore people are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections including 14 lakh first-time voters
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday (October 6) announced the full schedule for the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, setting the stage for a high-octane political battle in two phases in November.
Voting for the 243-member Assembly will take place on November 6 and 11. The counting takes place on November 14.
With the announcement of the dates, the Model Code of Conduct comes into immediate effect across the state.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar detailed the schedule at a press conference in New Delhi, emphasising the need for a two-phase election to ensure the smooth deployment of security forces and efficient management of polling across all 38 districts.
While 121 Assembly constituencies will go to the polls in the first phase, voting will be held in 122 Assembly constituencies in the second phase.
Kumar termed the Bihar elections as "mother of all elections".
For the first phase, the last date of filing nominations is October 17 while the scrutiny will be held on October 18. The last date of withdrawal of candidature for first phase elections is October 20.
Similarly, for the second phase, the last date of filing nominations is October 20 while scrutiny will be held on October 21. The last date of withdrawal of candidature for the first phase elections is October 23.
The term of the current Assembly ends on November 22. Bihar has 243 constituencies, including two reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 38 for Scheduled Castes.
Over 7 crore voters
Over 7.4 crore people are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, including 14 lakh first-time voters. "There are a total of 7.42 crore voters in Bihar, of which 3.92 crore are males and 3.5 crore are women. There are 14 lakh first-time voters and 4 lakh senior citizen voters," Kumar said at a press conference.
At least 14,000 voters in the state are aged above 100 years. A total of 90,712 polling stations are being set up in Bihar, he said.
Controversial elections in the offing
The announcement comes amid a raging controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, which has led to a reduction of 38 lakh voters, prompting the Opposition to make big allegations of vote chori (theft).
The EC will also roll out certain electoral reforms with the Bihar polls. These include a cap of 1,200 on the number of voters allotted to each polling station, and the serial number font and candidate photos being printed in colour.
The SIR exercise has led to a significant drop in the number of voters — the final list was released on September 30. While the total electorate has gone down from about 7.8 crore to 7.42 crore in the final rolls, male voters were cut by 3.8 per cent (15.5 lakh), while women voters declined by 6.1 per cent (22.7 lakh).
The Opposition, led by the Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, has held a Voter Adhikar Yatra in the state to protest against the SIR exercise.
The BJP-led NDA currently holds 131 seats in the 243-seat Assembly, including the BJP’s 80 seats, JD(U)’s 45, HAM(S)’s 4, and two independents. The Opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) holds 111 seats, with the RJD’s 77, Congress’s 19, CPI(ML)’s 11, and two each of CPI(M) and CPI.
Also read:
Congress claims EC’s Bihar SIR removed 23 lakh women from voters’ list
NDA’s Rs 62,000 Cr poll bonanza blunts Opposition's ‘vote chori’ plank
Why is Nitish, known for no-tolerance policy, mum on graft charges against Bihar ministers
SIR: 'Final' Bihar voter roll still a mystery, leaves Grand Alliance baffled
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Live Updates
- 6 Oct 2025 8:32 PM IST
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- 6 Oct 2025 7:17 PM IST
'EC-BJP gathbandhan': Congress's swipe at poll body
Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "We don't get answers to our questions. Election Commission is being questioned on a daily basis. They created a political environment that there are illegal migrants, where are the illegal migrants? They did not answer." "The questions that INDIA bloc and Rahul Gandhi asked, no answers have been given," he told PTI Videos.
Khera also alleged that the announcement was made on Monday, giving the ruling alliance time to put money in people's hands.
"If this is not 'gathbandhan' (alliance) between the BJP and the EC, then what is it. The issue is not just 'vote chori' but what you do after it. What you did for the last 20 years those are the issues. You stole pensions, rations, jobs," Khera said.
- 6 Oct 2025 7:03 PM IST
Bihar to Vote: What Changes This Year in the 2025 Assembly Polls?
The Election Commission has announced that the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that preparations are complete to ensure free, fair, and timely polls. Bihar will also introduce 17 major electoral reforms designed to enhance transparency and streamline the voting process, marking the first time such measures are being implemented in the state. The announcement sets the stage for one of Bihar’s most significant democratic exercises, with both administration and voters gearing up for the upcoming elections.
- 6 Oct 2025 6:18 PM IST
Janshakti Janta Dal will face this and fight the elections: Tej Pratap Yadav
Janshakti Janta Dal will face this and fight the elections...Candidates will be announced the day after, when we hold a press conference: Janshakti Janta Dal Founder Tej Pratap Yadav
#WATCH | On Bihar poll dates, Janshakti Janta Dal Founder Tej Pratap Yadav says, "...Janshakti Janta Dal will face this and fight the elections...Candidates will be announced the day after, when we hold a press conference."
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025
On Patna Metro inauguration, he says, "The land… pic.twitter.com/j3zcRlpiDp - 6 Oct 2025 6:11 PM IST
Bihar is ready once again to choose NDA govt: Uttarakhand CM
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami says he is confident that Bihar will once again vote for the NDA and “bestow its blessings in favour of development, stability and nationalism.”
"Bihar is ready once again to choose an NDA government! Today, the Election Commission has announced the Bihar Assembly elections on the 6th and 9th of November. This is not just an opportunity for the selection of public representatives, but also a time to reaffirm the resolve for a developed Bihar. Under the leadership of the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the country is progressing at such a pace, the people of Bihar have always expressed their trust in the national interest and people-welfare policy. I am fully confident that Bihar will once again bestow its blessings in favour of development, stability, and nationalism," Dhami posted on X.
- 6 Oct 2025 6:08 PM IST
NDA will sweep Bihar polls: Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal
Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal says that with the work the NDA has done in Bihar, he is confident that the alliance will sweep the Assembly polls by two-thirds votes.
#WATCH | On Bihar poll dates, Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal says, "NDA and BJP welcome this...We are confident that the EC will conduct a fair election and ensure that all voters can vote safely...On 14th Nov, people will give their mandate to form an NDA Govt once again...NDA is… pic.twitter.com/XECqUfV5aA
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025 - 6 Oct 2025 6:05 PM IST
We need a referee in form of EC: RJD MP Manoj Jha
"After today's official announcement by the Election Commissioners, Bihar elections have officially begun. Model Code of Conduct has been implemented... We need a referee in the form of the Election Commission, who does not side with any party," says RJD MP Manoj Jha.
- 6 Oct 2025 5:55 PM IST
We are fully prepared: Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary
Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary says the NDA is all set for the polls and seat-sharing will be finalised soon.
#WATCH | On Bihar poll dates, Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary says, "...We are fully prepared, there is no problem. The results will be good. Seat distribution and our preparations are going on well...Seat sharing will be done soon." pic.twitter.com/mlKA4SQH0W
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025 - 6 Oct 2025 5:50 PM IST
We don’t want a CM who pleads, we want a CM who roars: Tejashwi
Calling November 14, the day the results will be declared, a festive occasion, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has exuded confidence that the Mahagathbandhan will form the government in Bihar this time.
#WATCH | On Bihar poll dates, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "...We don't want a CM who pleads, we want a CM who roars like a lion...A festival begins today...With Tejashwi, every Bihari will be a CM this time, they will be CM - Change Maker..."
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025
"14th Nov date will be written… pic.twitter.com/9vcu7B0rca - 6 Oct 2025 5:43 PM IST
Congress will definitely be prepared this time: MP Ranjeet Ranjan
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said fruitful discussions are underway in the Grand Alliance for seat-sharing with the focus on quality and not quantity. She said while Congress didn’t perform well in the last elections, it will be better prepared this time.
#WATCH | Bihar to vote in two phases on 6th and 11th November, counting of votes on 14th November.
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan says, "...I think this time, we are having fruitful discussions (on seat-sharing) in Mahagathbandhan and we will focus on quality, and not quantity.… pic.twitter.com/EIrtoqaI2T
