Bihar Assembly Elections 2024: Election Commission to Announce Poll Dates as Political Alliances Prepare for Crucial Battle

The Election Commission of India will be announcing the election schedule for Bihar at 4 pm today, setting the stage for a crucial political contest in the state.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has confirmed that voting for all 243 assembly seats in Bihar will be completed by November 22, coinciding with the end of the current assembly's term. Political parties have advocated for holding elections after the 'Chhath Puja' festival in late October, as many migrant workers return home during this period, potentially increasing voter participation.

During a press briefing about the Bihar poll preparations, Gyanesh Kumar addressed voters partly in Bhojpuri, encouraging them to participate in the "festival of democracy" with the same enthusiasm they show for Chhath celebrations. He expressed gratitude for the successful completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Kumar also announced electoral process improvements, including limiting voters to 1,200 per polling station and upgrading candidate photos from black and white to color format. He defended the SIR process against opposition criticism, stating that voter list revisions are mandatory before elections and post-election reviews would not comply with legal requirements.

The upcoming elections will feature a direct battle between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), currently led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' coalition spearheaded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The NDA presently holds 131 seats (BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and 2 independents), while the Opposition has 111 seats (RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2).

Adding to the electoral dynamics, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party will make its electoral debut, contesting all 243 assembly seats across the state.

Political activities have intensified throughout Bihar, with both major alliances conducting extensive campaign events and exchanging accusations.

The previous Bihar assembly elections in 2020 were conducted in three phases during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NDA retained power with Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister. In 2022, Kumar severed ties with the NDA to form a government with the RJD-led 'Mahagathbandhan', only to return to the NDA fold in 2024.

The recently completed Special Intensive Revision has generated controversy, with the final electoral list published on September 30 showing a significant reduction in voter numbers. The total electorate decreased by approximately 38 lakh, dropping from 7.8 crore on January 1, 2025, to 7.42 crore in the final list. The revision added 21.53 lakh new names while removing 3.66 lakh.

Gender disparities were evident in the revision, with male voters decreasing by 3.8 percent (15.5 lakh) and female voters experiencing a more substantial decline of 6.1 percent (22.7 lakh).

The Opposition has questioned the timing and methodology of this revision, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav leading a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' protest campaign across Bihar.