As Bihar gears up for a crucial electoral showdown, political parties across the spectrum have collectively urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to schedule the upcoming Assembly elections immediately after the Chhath festival, which falls on October 28 this year. Their strongest demand — conduct the polls in as few phases as possible, preferably just one.
EC Holds Key Meeting with Political Delegations
At a high-level consultation, representatives from national and regional heavyweights — including BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI(M), AAP, BSP, and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) — pressed the Commission to announce the schedule without delay.
Most parties echoed a similar sentiment: the longer the election stretches, the more difficult it becomes to maintain voter enthusiasm, administrative efficiency, and security control.
JD(U) Pushes for One-Day Polling Like Maharashtra
JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha led the charge in favour of a single-phase election, asserting that Bihar was fully capable of conducting a streamlined voting process.
“If Maharashtra can have elections in one phase, why not Bihar? There is no serious law and order issue, nor Naxal threat at the scale seen years ago,” Jha stated.
He also reminded the EC to consider the migration patterns of Bihari workers who return home for Diwali and Chhath, urging that polling dates be fixed in such a way that they can vote before leaving for work in other states. Additionally, Jha sought heavy deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure fearless voting.
Likely Poll Dates: November 5–15 Window
According to sources quoted by India Today, the Assembly elections are likely to be conducted between November 5 and 15. With the current Assembly set to dissolve on November 22, the EC must complete the process before that deadline.
Voter Roll Cleanup Sparks Controversy
However, a storm is already brewing over voter list revisions. During a Special Intensive Revision exercise, nearly 65 lakh names were reportedly deleted from the draft roll. The Opposition INDIA bloc has accused the EC of “targeted voter suppression,” alleging that many genuine voters — particularly from marginalised and minority communities — were struck off the list.
The issue has even drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which has warned that it may invalidate the entire revision process if irregularities are found, even after the final list is published.
EC to Crack Down on Fake News, Digital Hate
In preparation for the poll season, the Commission has instructed top state and district officials — including IGs, DIGs, DEOs, and SPs — to intensify surveillance of social media content. Any attempt to spread misinformation, incite tension, or disrupt communal harmony is to be countered immediately with legal action.
Multi-Phase Polling Still Expected — If EC Plays It Safe
Despite the political push for a single-phase election, there is speculation that the EC may stick to its traditional multi-phase approach. Bihar’s 2020 Assembly polls were conducted in three phases, while the 2015 elections stretched across five.
NDA vs INDIA Bloc — A High-Stakes Rematch
The electoral battle is expected to be a fierce face-off between the ruling NDA, comprising BJP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas), and the Opposition INDIA bloc, led by RJD, Congress, and Left parties.
- Current Assembly Strength (243 seats):
- NDA — 131 seats
- BJP: 80
- JD(U): 45
- HAM(S): 4
- Independents: 2
- INDIA Bloc — 111 seats
- RJD: 77
- Congress: 19
- CPI(ML): 11
- CPI(M): 2
- CPI: 2
- NDA — 131 seats
With Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seeking yet another term — and the Opposition determined to oust him — Bihar is once again heading toward a politically charged and closely watched contest.
