PATNA, October 6, 2025:The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, setting the stage for a fierce political battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).
Polling for the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly will be conducted in two phases—on November 6 and November 11—with the counting of votes and declaration of results scheduled for November 14, 2025.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the entire election process will conclude before the current Assembly’s term ends on November 22, 2025. With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across the state.
Key Election Schedule
| Poll Event | Phase I (121 Seats) | Phase II (122 Seats) |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Notification | October 10 | October 13 |
| Last Date for Nomination | October 17 | October 20 |
| Date of Poll | November 6 | November 11 |
| Counting of Votes | November 14 | November 14 |
🔹 The Political Battle: NDA vs Mahagathbandhan
The upcoming election is expected to be a bipolar contest between the NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, headed by Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD.
1. National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
- CM Candidate: Nitish Kumar (JD(U)), Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister.
- Current Strength: 131 seats (BJP – 80, JD(U) – 45, others – 6).
- Campaign Focus: “Good governance,” welfare schemes, and the “double-engine” growth model under PM Narendra Modi.
- Key Leaders: Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, vital for managing caste equations.
- Challenges: Nitish Kumar’s frequent alliance switches have raised questions about credibility and voter trust, while opposition leaders question his health and political stamina.
2. Mahagathbandhan (INDIA Bloc)
- CM Candidate: Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), the former Deputy Chief Minister.
- Current Strength: 111 seats (RJD – 77, Congress – 19, Left parties – 15).
- Campaign Focus: Youth employment, migration, and law and order. Tejashwi is appealing to the aspirations of young voters while relying on the RJD’s traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) base.
- Challenges: Allegations of “Jungle Raj” continue to shadow the RJD, and coordination among allies—especially Congress and the Left—remains a concern.
3. Emerging Player: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP)
- Leader: Prashant Kishor, political strategist turned reformist.
- Strategy: Contesting all 243 seats, the JSP aims to present itself as a third front and may influence anti-incumbency votes, potentially reshaping electoral dynamics.
Opinion & Analysis
Bihar’s electoral politics have historically been unpredictable. In 2020, despite a nearly identical vote share (around 37% each), the NDA edged out the opposition due to effective seat-sharing and coalition management.
- A C-Voter survey indicates growing popularity for Tejashwi Yadav as the most preferred CM candidate, particularly among the youth.
- However, pollster Pradeep Gupta (Axis My India) points out that “Nitish Kumar remains the common denominator” in Bihar politics, with voters weighing continuity against change.
Key Factors to Watch
- Nitish’s Vote Transferability: Can the JD(U) chief transfer his core voter base to BJP allies after multiple political shifts?
- Tejashwi’s Youth Outreach: Can the RJD leader expand beyond his MY base and attract non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs?
- Impact of Prashant Kishor: Will the JSP split votes significantly, especially among anti-NDA or first-time voters?
The Road Ahead
As Bihar heads into another high-voltage electoral season, both alliances are sharpening their campaign machinery. The 2025 results are expected to hinge on razor-thin margins, caste alignments, and last-minute voter swings — setting the tone for the state’s political trajectory over the next five years.
