The Election Commission of India has officially announced the commencement of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, setting the stage for a significant political contest across the state’s 243 constituencies. Voting is scheduled to take place in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with the crucial vote counting set for November 14. This electoral battleground sees major alliances vying for power. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has reached a seat-sharing agreement, with the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party each contesting 101 seats. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will compete in six constituencies each. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will field candidates in 29 seats.
Challenging the ruling NDA is the Mahagathbandhan coalition. The Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian National Congress, Vikassheel Insaan Party, and various Left parties are mobilizing their efforts to unseat the current government. The RJD has put forward 143 candidates, following a lack of consensus on seat sharing within the alliance, which has also led to friendly contests in at least 20 seats. Adding another dimension to the election is Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement, which has declared its intention to contest all 243 seats independently. Notably, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, which secured five seats in the previous election, plans to contest numerous constituencies this time, raising concerns about potential polarization in Muslim-majority areas. The election promises a dynamic and closely watched contest for the Bihar Vidhan Sabha.