The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections today at 4 PM from Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. This announcement follows a comprehensive two-day review of poll preparedness in the state, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, having conducted extensive meetings with state officials and political parties.
Two-Phase Voting Expected After Chhath Puja
The upcoming elections are likely to be conducted in two phases, with voting expected to begin after the Chhath festival concludes on October 28. Political parties across the spectrum have urged the Election Commission to schedule the polls immediately after Chhath Puja to ensure maximum voter participation, as many migrant workers from Bihar return home during this significant festival.
The JD(U) has specifically requested single-phase polling immediately after the festival to allow migrant voters to cast their votes before returning to their workplaces. The BJP has echoed this demand, calling for elections in one or two phases with adequate deployment of paramilitary forces in sensitive areas.
Electoral Landscape and Key Statistics
The 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly currently has 131 NDA seats and 111 Mahagathbandhan seats. The term of the current assembly ends on November 22, 2025, making it imperative for the Election Commission to complete the election process before this deadline.
The final electoral roll, published on September 30, lists 7.42 crore electors, following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. This represents a decrease from the previous count of 7.89 crore as of June 24.
Enhanced Election Arrangements
The Election Commission has introduced 17 new initiatives for the Bihar polls, including 100% webcasting at every polling booth, colored photographs of candidates on EVMs, and enhanced remuneration for election staff. Mobile phone deposit counters will be set up outside polling stations, and voters will be allowed to carry mobile phones up to the outer area of polling stations.
CM Nitish Kumar to Inaugurate Patna Metro at 11 AM
In a significant development on the same day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the first phase of Patna Metro at 11 AM. The metro service will begin operations on a 3.6-kilometer elevated stretch known as the ‘Blue Line,’ connecting three key stations: New Patliputra Bus Terminal (ISBT), Zero Mile, and Bhootnath.
Metro Service Details
The Patna Metro, developed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) in collaboration with the Bihar government, will operate daily from 8 AM to 10 PM with fares ranging from ₹15 to ₹30. Each three-coach train can accommodate approximately 900 passengers per trip, with 138 seated passengers and 945 standing passengers per coach.
The metro coaches have been decorated with Madhubani paintings featuring illustrations of Bihar’s cultural heritage, including the Golghar, Mahabodhi Temple, Buddha Stupa, and Nalanda ruins. While the service will be inaugurated today, public operations will commence from October 7.
Future Expansion Plans
During the inauguration ceremony, CM Kumar will also lay the foundation stone for six underground metro stations, including Patna Junction, and a 9.35-kilometer tunnel as part of Corridor-I. This underground corridor will connect Patna Junction to Rukunpura, significantly expanding the metro network in the state capital.
Political Implications
The simultaneous announcement of election dates and inauguration of the Patna Metro carries significant political weight, occurring just before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect. The metro inauguration represents a major infrastructure achievement for the Nitish Kumar government ahead of the crucial assembly elections, potentially serving as a campaign highlight for the ruling NDA.
The upcoming election is expected to be a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). A third player in the contest is Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, which has announced it will contest all 243 assembly constituencies independently.
