The Election Commission of India has officially sounded the poll bugle for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections in 2025. Polling for the 243-member Bihar Vidhan Sabha is slated for November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. The state’s political heavyweights are preparing for a fierce contest. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has settled its seat-sharing arrangements, with both the JDU and BJP contesting from 101 constituencies. HAM and RLM will each field candidates in six seats, while Chirag Paswan’s LJP-RV will be in the fray in 29 constituencies.
The Mahagathbandhan coalition stands as the primary opposition to the ruling NDA. Parties within this alliance, including the RJD, Congress, VIP, and Left parties, are intensely campaigning. The RJD is fielding 143 candidates due to an unresolved seat-sharing agreement, which has also resulted in amicable contests on approximately 20 seats. A significant independent contender is Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which has declared its intention to contest all 243 assembly seats on its own. Additionally, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, a party that won five seats previously, has announced its participation in dozens of seats this election cycle. This has raised concerns about potential communal polarization in Muslim-majority constituencies. Voters will soon decide the fate of candidates across all Bihar constituencies.