The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the schedule for the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly elections today at 4 PM. All 243 assembly seats, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs, will go to polls before the term of the current Assembly ends on November 22, 2025. The ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance is expected to face a formidable challenge from the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and Congress.
The 2025 Bihar assembly elections come amid a raging controversy over the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that was conducted by the Election Commission to weed out outdated or illegal voter names in the state. The Opposition has repeatedly questioned the timing of the voter revision process and has accused the poll body of carrying out the process in a partisan manner with the aim of benefiting the ruling NDA.
However, the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar earlier said that the voter list in Bihar has been “purified” for the first time in 22 years through the SIR. This update addresses long-standing inaccuracies and duplication issues in the electoral roll, he said. The revised list is legally valid and aims to improve transparency and accuracy in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, political parties in Bihar have urged the Election Commission to schedule the polls after the Chhath Puja festival to ensure maximum voter participation. The Election Commission is likely to consider this request when finalising the election dates.
“We congratulate the voters of India on a successful SIR process and appeal to all voters of Bihar to celebrate this festival of democracy with the same enthusiasm as you celebrate Chhath. Everyone should vote and ensure their participation,” Kumar said on Sunday.
In the run-up to the polls, the Election Commission has introduced 17 new initiatives aimed at enhancing the electoral process. These measures include the implementation of webcasting at all polling stations, the use of coloured photographs on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and allowing voters to carry mobile phones up to the outer area of polling stations. These reforms are expected to serve as models for future elections across the country.
