New Delhi/Patna, Sep 18: The Election Commission (EC) is likely to hold the Bihar Assembly elections in three phases beginning the first week of November, according to a draft proposal under consideration. Sources said the schedule may be formally announced in the first week of October.
“The elections are likely to kick-start around a week after the Chhath Pooja celebrations, which conclude on October 28, and are expected to be wrapped up in three phases as per the EC’s proposed plan,” a source said.
The tenure of the current 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22, making it necessary to complete the electoral exercise before that date. In 2020, Bihar also voted in three phases—on October 28, November 3 and November 7—with results declared on November 10.
The upcoming Bihar polls will also mark a first for electronic voting machines (EVMs), which will now display coloured photographs of candidates. The candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the allotted photo space for greater clarity.
Additionally, serial numbers of candidates and the NOTA option will be printed in the international form of Indian numerals, in bold, 30-size font. The ballot paper will be printed on pink-coloured sheets, specified by unique RGB values, the EC has said.
Electoral roll revision
As per the schedule of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway, the final voters’ list will be published on September 30 after all claims and objections are settled. EC officials noted that the list will be updated until the last date of nomination filing, ensuring the inclusion of first-time voters turning 18 by then.
The revision exercise has, however, drawn political controversy. The Congress and its allies have accused the EC of colluding with the BJP-led Centre to delete names of poor, Dalit and migrant voters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi even launched a “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, alleging attempts at “vote theft.”
On August 31, the Congress claimed it had submitted 89 lakh complaints to the EC, with stamped receipts as proof, despite the EC’s assertion that no formal complaints had been filed. Election Commission sources countered that the party’s submissions were not in the proper format and were therefore not officially recorded.
By September 1—the last date for filing claims and objections—more than two lakh applications for exclusion of names had been submitted by voters and parties. The CPI(ML) Liberation alone filed 103 applications for deletions, while the ruling BJP sought 16 exclusions. The RJD, meanwhile, filed 10 applications seeking inclusion of voters.
The Bihar Assembly elections are among the most closely watched contests this year, with the outcome expected to shape political alignments ahead of the 2026 general elections.
