The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election for all 243 constituencies is scheduled to be held on October or November 2025. It will be conducted by the Election Commission of India.
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All 243 seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly 122 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Bihar Legislative Assembly seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
editThe previous assembly elections were held in October–November 2020. After the election, the National Democratic Alliance formed the state government, with Nitish Kumar becoming Chief Minister. Later, in August 2022, Nitish Kumar led the JD(U) to sever ties with the NDA and formed a government with the RJD led by Mahagathbandhan. Later, in January 2024, Nitish Kumar led the JD(U) to sever ties with the RJD and once again formed a government with the BJP-led NDA.
Schedule
editElection Commission of India will likely announce schedule in September.
| Poll Event | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | TBD |
| Last Date for filing nomination | TBD |
| Scrutiny of nomination | TBD |
| Last Date for Withdrawal of nomination | TBD |
| Date of Poll | TBD |
| Date of Counting of Votes | TBD |
Parties and Alliances
edit| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Photo | Seats contested | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 
|
|
Dilip Kumar Jaiswal | .jpg){kind=small}
|
TBD | |
| Janata Dal (United) | 
|
|
Nitish Kumar | .jpg)
|
TBD | |
| Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) | Chirag Paswan | 
|
TBD | |||
| Hindustani Awam Morcha | 
|
Jitan Ram Manjhi | 
|
TBD | ||
| Rashtriya Lok Morcha | 
|
|
Upendra Kushwaha | 
|
TBD | |
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Photo | Seats contested | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashtriya Janata Dal | 
|
|
Tejashwi Yadav | 
|
TBD | |
| Indian National Congress | 
|
|
Rajesh Kumar | 
|
TBD | |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation | 
|
|
Mahbub Alam | 
|
TBD | |
| Communist Party of India | 
|
|
Ram Naresh Pandey | 
|
TBD | |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 
|
_election_symbol_-_Hammer_Sickle_and_Star.svg){kind=small}
|
Ajay Kumar |
|
TBD | |
| Vikassheel Insaan Party |
|
|
Mukesh Sahani |
|
TBD | |
Others
edit| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Photo | Seats contested | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Suraaj Party |
|
Prashant Kishor | 
|
243[2] | ||
| Bahujan Samaj Party | 
|
|
Mayawati | 
|
243[3] | |
| Aam Aadmi Party | .svg){kind=logo}
|
|
Arvind Kejriwal | .jpg)
|
243[4] | |
| Plurals Party |
|
|
Pushpam Priya Choudhary |
|
243[5] | |
| Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party | Pashupati Kumar Paras | .jpg)
|
TBD | |||
| All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen | 
|
|
Akhtarul Iman |
|
TBD | |
Candidates
editCampaigns
editThe 2025 Bihar Assembly election campaign centered on a mix of local and socio-economic issues. Unemployment and migration were prominent themes: parties noted that many Bihar youth migrate out of state for work, and competing manifestos promised large-scale job creation.[6] Caste politics also remained a key factor. All major parties pledged to support a new caste census and "social justice" measures, reflecting widespread calls to address the state’s caste-based inequalities.[7] Corruption and governance were attacked by the opposition; for example, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the Nitish Kumar government of "institutionalising corruption" and misusing government schemes (like a women’s outreach programme) for electioneering.[8] The ruling alliance countered by criticizing the RJD’s past ("jungle raj") and highlighting its own welfare record. A major flashpoint was the voter roll revision (Special Intensive Revision, SIR) carried out by the Election Commission. Opposition parties claimed the intensive revision was a partisan tool, alleging mass deletions of voters and promising protests or even an election boycott.[9]
Party campaign strategies
edit- NDA (BJP, JD(U), LJP(R), HAM(S)): The ruling coalition ran on a platform of development and social welfare. It emphasized caste-based outreach and welfare delivery, and frequently invoked Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The BJP also attacked the RJD over law and order and historic scams, while JD(U) emphasized Nitish Kumar’s governance. Seat-sharing talks between BJP and JD(U) indicated a near-equal division.[10]
- RJD (leading INDIA bloc): The RJD centered its campaign on employment, youth issues, and anti-incumbency. Tejashwi Yadav pledged massive job creation and ran a digital-heavy campaign, including AI-generated videos and memes. The RJD organized backward caste meetings and positioned itself as the party of Dalits, OBCs, and the poor.[11]
- Congress: As a partner in the INDIA bloc, the Congress highlighted youth migration and unemployment, notably through leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s padyatra. Rahul Gandhi planned a multi-day campaign tour of Bihar in August 2025, criticizing voter list issues and advocating electoral reforms.[12]
- Jan Suraaj Party: Led by Prashant Kishor, Jan Suraaj positioned itself as an alternative to both NDA and the INDIA bloc. Kishor organized the Bihar Badlav Yatra, pledged to contest all 243 seats, and focused on governance, education, and clean politics. Between October 2022 and October 2024, he undertook padayatra across Bihar, walking over 5,000 km and visiting more than 5,500 villages to engage with local communities directly.[13][14] At the party’s launch, Kishor announced provisions such as candidate selection through US-style primaries, the right to recall legislators who fail to perform, and a pledge that 90% of candidates would be first-time contestants.[15][16]
Alliances and seat-sharing
editThe NDA comprises BJP, JD(U), LJP(R), HAM(S), and smaller allies. JD(U) pushed for a 50:50 seat-sharing formula with the BJP. LJP(R) leader Chirag Paswan publicly backed Nitish Kumar as CM face.[17]
The INDIA bloc includes RJD, Congress, Left parties, and VIP. Negotiations among allies were reportedly settled by mid-2025, with RJD taking the largest share. Jan Suraaj Party is contesting independently.
Digital and ground-level campaigning
editAll parties engaged in a mix of high-tech outreach and traditional campaigning. RJD’s social media team went viral with AI-based videos mocking rivals, while BJP and JD(U) used WhatsApp groups and door-to-door campaigns, especially through women vistaraks.[citation needed] Congress used padayatras and planned public rallies, while Jan Suraaj emphasized grassroots outreach through panchayat visits.[citation needed]
Campaign controversies
editThe most prominent controversy surrounded the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Opposition parties alleged disenfranchisement of minorities and migrants. The matter reached the Supreme Court and became a centerpiece of the INDIA bloc’s protests.[18]
An incident involving a portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at an RJD event triggered backlash. NDA leaders and the SC/ST Commission condemned it, demanding apologies. The RJD termed it political vendetta.[19]
Major rallies and events
editPrime Minister Modi held mega rallies in Motihari and Siwan, announcing infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores. Tejashwi Yadav addressed backward caste conventions and youth-focused meetings. Jan Suraaj's Gandhi Maidan rally in Patna drew significant crowds and launched the party’s full-state tour. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi planned joint INDIA bloc rallies in August and September.[citation needed]
Controversies
editSpecial Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
editOn the 24th of June 2025, the Election Commission (EC) notified that it will conduct a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar before the elections. The exercise requires all the voters from the state to fill forms to be included in the voter list. People whose names were not in the 2003 voter lists need to provide additional documents. The notification also mentioned that the documents needed to be submitted within a month (with 25th July being the deadline).
Further, the voters need to provide one of the eleven documents mandated by the EC, with the common documents such as the Aadhaar card, voter ID card and ration cards, not included as valid documents. A significant number of people in Bihar do not have any of the 11 documents. Furthermore, a significant population of the state migrate in other parts of India for work or study and it is estimated that at least 75 lakh (7.5 million) people from Bihar migrate to other parts of India.[20] Critics have argued it would be difficult for such voters to be a part of this exercise. Such factors have led to fears of mass exclusion of voters. Opposition parties - such as the INDIA alliance - alleged that such an exercise will favor the ruling NDA alliance. The Election Commission denied these allegations and claimed that the exercise is lawful and constitutional.[21][22][23][24]
The SIR was challenged in the Supreme Court. On the 10th of July, the court advised the Election Commission to consider the Aadhaar card, voter ID card and ration cards as valid documents for the exercise.[25] On the 21st of July, the Election Commission responded by saying that it will not accept the Aadhaar card, voter ID card and ration cards as valid documents, as suggested by the Supreme Court.[26]
In August, Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition, Bihar, alleged his name was removed from the voter list after the SIR exercise. The Election commission dismissed the allegations as factually incorrect[27] and declared the EPIC number shown by him to the media was fake. The poll body asked him to submit the fake voter ID card to the ECI office by 16 August, 2025.[28]
On August 2025, Rahul Gandhi made allegations against BJP about election commission.[29][30] The ECI dismissed the allegations as misleading,[31][32] and asked him to submit the allegations under oath or apologise to the nation.[33]
Surveys and polls
editOpinion polls
edit| Polling agency | Majority | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA | MGB | Others | ||
Exit polls
edit| Polling agency | Majority | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA | MGB | Others |
Results
editResults by alliance or party
edit| Alliance/ Party | Popular vote | Seats | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Contested | Won | +/− | ||||
| NDA | Bharatiya Janata Party | ||||||||
| Janata Dal (United) | |||||||||
| Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) | |||||||||
| Hindustani Awam Morcha | |||||||||
| Rashtriya Lok Morcha | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| MGB | Rashtriya Janata Dal | ||||||||
| Indian National Congress | |||||||||
| Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation | |||||||||
| Communist Party of India | |||||||||
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |||||||||
| Vikassheel Insaan Party | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| Other parties[broken anchor] | |||||||||
| Independents | |||||||||
| NOTA | |||||||||
| Total | 100% | — | 243 | — | |||||
Results by district
edit| District | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA | MGB | Others | ||
| West Champaran | 9 | |||
| East Champaran | 12 | |||
| Sheohar | 1 | |||
| Sitamarhi | 8 | |||
| Madhubani | 10 | |||
| Supaul | 5 | |||
| Araria | 6 | |||
| Kishanganj | 4 | |||
| Purnia | 7 | |||
| Katihar | 7 | |||
| Madhepura | 4 | |||
| Saharsa | 4 | |||
| Darbhanga | 10 | |||
| Muzaffarpur | 11 | |||
| Gopalganj | 6 | |||
| Siwan | 8 | |||
| Saran | 10 | |||
| Vaishali | 8 | |||
| Samastipur | 10 | |||
| Begusarai | 7 | |||
| Khagaria | 4 | |||
| Bhagalpur | 7 | |||
| Banka | 5 | |||
| Munger | 3 | |||
| Lakhisarai | 2 | |||
| Sheikhpura | 2 | |||
| Nalanda | 7 | |||
| Patna | 14 | |||
| Bhojpur | 7 | |||
| Buxar | 4 | |||
| Kaimur | 4 | |||
| Rohtas | 7 | |||
| Arwal | 2 | |||
| Jehanabad | 3 | |||
| Aurangabad | 6 | |||
| Gaya | 10 | |||
| Nawada | 5 | |||
| Jamui | 4 | |||
| Total | 243 |
Results by constituency
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "सप्तदश बिहार विधान सभा में विभिन्न राजनीतिक दलों की दलगत स्थिति (दिनांक 27 नवम्बर, 2024 तक यथा स्थिति)" (PDF). Bihar Vidhan Sabha. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Jan Suraaj to contest on all 243 seats in Bihar, 40 candidates to be women: Prashant Kishore". The Times of India. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "BSP to go solo in Bihar polls: Mayawati". The Times of India. 8 July 2025.
- ^ "AAP To Contest All 243 Seats In Bihar Election 2025, MP Sanjay Singh Announces". ABP News. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
- ^ "Pushpam Priya Chaudhary active before Bihar assembly elections TPP to contest all 243 seats". Live Hindustan. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Unemployment, Migration, and Jumlas: Will Youth Push Bihar's Mandate Beyond Caste?".
- ^ "OTT norms reignite net neutrality debate". The Hindu. 2 October 2023.
- ^ https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/tejashwi-alleges-nitish-kumar-institutionalised-corruption-2943093
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/31/india-voter-rolls-revision-bihar-bjp/
- ^ "Crops dying, dams drying in several districts of Maharashtra due to scanty rain". 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Five key reasons why Bihar election 2025 is high-stakes contest — shifting loyalties, popularity swings and Op Sindoor". 29 May 2025.
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-to-visit-bihar-on-august-10/articleshow/123008749.cms
- ^ "Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj to contest in all 243 seats in Bihar Assembly polls". 25 August 2024.
- ^ "1 yr of Jan Suraaj: How Prashant Kishor's bid to mobilise Biharis on development, not caste, is going". 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Will Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party reshape Bihar's complex political landscape?". 6 October 2024.
- ^ "जन सुराज के 90% प्रत्याशी कैसे होंगे? प्रशांत किशोर ने बताया, 243 सीटों पर लड़ेगी पार्टी". 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Why is the Congress Reluctant to Endorse Tejashwi Yadav as Bihar Poll Nears?".
- ^ "Inside the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar: Process, concerns and political fallout". 9 July 2025.
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rjd-under-fire-for-ambedkar-portrait-on-floor-at-lalu-yadav-event-2437890-2025-07-20
- ^ Nizam, Arif; Sivakumar, P.; Rajan, S. Irudaya (2022). "Interstate Migration in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Based on Mobile Visitor Location Register and Roaming Data". Journal of South Asian Development. 17 (3): 271–296. doi:10.1177/09731741221122000.
- ^ "Inside the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar: Process, concerns and political fallout". The New Indian Express. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Korada, Pavan (10 July 2025). "EC's Directive to Update Voter Lists in Bihar Risks Mass Exclusion. Here's Why". The Wire. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Careful curation: On Bihar's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls". The Hindu. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ Nizam, Arif; Sivakumar, P.; Rajan, S. Irudaya (1 December 2022). "Interstate Migration in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Based on Mobile Visitor Location Register and Roaming Data". Journal of South Asian Development. 17 (3): 271–296. doi:10.1177/09731741221122000. ISSN 0973-1741.
- ^ Staff, The Wire (10 July 2025). "Bihar SIR: Supreme Court Suggests Election Commission Accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, Ration Cards". The Wire. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Staff, The Wire (22 July 2025). "Bihar SIR: Election Commission Tells Supreme Court it Has Power to Scrutinise Citizenship". The Wire. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-elections-a-fact-check-from-poll-body-after-tejashwi-yadavs-name-missing-claim-9005763
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/epic-trouble-for-tejashwi-yadav-card-shown-to-media-seems-fake-says-ec-asks-him-to-surrender-it-by-august-16/articleshow/123190633.cms
- ^ "Bihar SIR: New India state voters' list still has wrong photos and dead people". www.bbc.com. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Tiwari, Ayush (9 August 2025). "EC replaces digital draft voter lists in Bihar with scanned images that make finding errors harder". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sign-declaration-or-apologise-ec-shreds-rahul-gandhis-5-questions-congress-bengaluru-rally-101754660845133.html
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/incorrect-misleading-poll-panel-fact-checks-opposition-alleging-vote-fraud-2769798-2025-08-11
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/poll-body-fact-checks-yet-another-voter-fraud-claim-by-rahul-gandhi-9057177