The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the Bihar Assembly election schedule today at 4 p.m., following a detailed two-day review of the state’s poll preparedness.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, conducted a series of meetings in Patna over the weekend. The discussions focused on ensuring robust security arrangements, efficient logistics, and strong enforcement measures to guarantee free and fair elections. “We are fully committed to conducting elections in Bihar that are transparent, inclusive and peaceful,” said CEC Gyanesh Kumar after the review meeting.
Officials confirmed that the review covered all major aspects of election planning , from the management of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and rationalisation of polling stations, to the training of election personnel and voter awareness initiatives.
District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance on social media platforms to identify misinformation and take swift legal action when required.
Ahead of the announcement, the ECI held consultations with representatives of key political parties, including the BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI(ML) and AAP, to gather their suggestions on the polling schedule. Several parties urged the Commission to conduct the elections after Chhath Puja, Bihar’s most important festival, to facilitate higher voter turnout and participation.
JD(U) Bihar president Umesh Singh Kushwaha said the party had requested single-phase polling immediately after Chhath Puja, allowing migrant voters to return home in time to cast their votes. The BJP echoed this demand, calling for polling in one or two phases and advocating for paramilitary deployment in sensitive areas to instil voter confidence. The previous Assembly elections in 2020 were conducted in three phases.
The schedule announcement follows the publication of the final electoral roll on 30 September, which placed the number of registered voters at 7.42 crore. The Special Intensive Revision of the rolls was completed ahead of time, paving the way for the formal declaration.
The forthcoming elections are expected to be a direct contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly, the NDA currently holds 131 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan commands 111.
