The much-awaited Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 have finally arrived, and this election is shaping up to be historic for several reasons. The Election Commission announced that the state would vote in two phases, with the first round of voting scheduled for November 6, 2025, followed by the second phase on November 11, 2025. The counting of votes will take place on November 14, 2025. This election, with its unique format and crucial political contests, is one of the most significant in recent history. In the first phase alone, 121 assembly seats spread across 18 districts will witness voting.
Key Constituencies and Districts in Focus
The upcoming Bihar assembly elections are expected to have intense competition, especially in the 121 constituencies scheduled for the first phase of voting. These constituencies are predominantly located in the northern and central regions of Bihar, including areas like Tirhut, Mithilanchal, and Kosi, which are traditionally considered strongholds of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) comprising the BJP and JD(U). These areas have consistently shown significant support for the NDA in the past, making them crucial battlegrounds in this election.
Political Landscape and Historical Context
The NDA has maintained a strong grip on these regions in the past, and their organizational network, backed by both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], remains influential. According to historical data from the past three assembly elections, approximately 70 of these 121 seats have been dominated by the NDA. In constituencies such as Darbhanga, which has 10 seats, the NDA holds nine. Mithilanchal, with its 46 seats, sees a significant NDA presence, having secured 30 seats in the last election. Likewise, Nalanda, with seven constituencies, is another region where the NDA holds a dominant position, winning six of those seats in 2020.
On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which includes the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Congress, and various left-leaning parties, will attempt to make inroads into these traditionally NDA-dominated constituencies. In Patna, for example, the NDA secured five out of the 13 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan secured nine.
The First Phase of Voting: Constituencies and Political Competition
The first phase of voting, taking place on November 6, 2025, will cover 121 constituencies spread across several districts of Bihar. These districts include Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, Siwan, Gopalganj, Saran, Vaishali, and Samastipur. Some of these seats are expected to witness fierce competition, as several of them were won by narrow margins in the previous elections, indicating that this phase will be highly contested.
In Patna, which has 14 constituencies, the battle will be tight between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The constituencies include Masaurhi, Paliganj, Bikram, Maner, Phulwari Sharif, Digha, Bankipur, Kumhrar, Patna Sahib, Fatuha, Barh, Mokama, Danapur, and Bakhtiarpur. Similarly, in Darbhanga, with nine constituencies, including Benipur, Hayaghat, Darbhanga Rural, Darbhanga Urban, Jale, Kioti, Bahadurpur, Gora Bauram, and Alinagar, the NDA will be seeking to defend its stronghold.
The districts of Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur, and Gopalganj, with significant rural and urban voter bases, will also witness intense competition. For instance, Muzaffarpur’s 11 constituencies, including Gaighat, Aurai, Minapur, Bochaha, Sakra, Kudhani, Muzaffarpur, Kanti, Baruraj, Paru, and Sahebganj, are expected to be major battlegrounds. The contest in these districts will be closely watched as both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan try to secure their political foothold.
Voter Demographics and Importance of Women Voters
As is the case in every election, voter demographics will play a crucial role in determining the outcomes of these constituencies. In the first phase of voting, nearly 5.6 crore voters are expected to cast their ballots, with women making up almost 48% of the electorate. This significant representation of women voters has proven to be a decisive factor in past elections, and their influence is expected to continue shaping the electoral results in 2025.
The NDA’s Strategy: Maintaining Strongholds
For the NDA, the first phase of voting will be a crucial test to maintain its dominance in the region. The alliance will aim to defend its traditional strongholds, particularly in northern Bihar, and prevent the Mahagathbandhan from making any significant inroads. The NDA’s strategy will focus on consolidating the support of Mahadalits, backward castes, and female voters, who have traditionally been a key support base for the alliance.
In areas like Tirhut, Mithilanchal, and Kosi, the NDA will rely on its organizational strength, which includes a robust network of grassroots workers, to mobilize voters and ensure victory. The NDA’s focus will also be on ensuring that it does not lose its traditional base among voters in rural and semi-urban areas, where the BJP and JD(U) have historically performed well.
The Mahagathbandhan’s Strategy: Aiming for an Upset
The Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and including Congress and left-leaning parties, has adopted a new strategy to challenge the NDA’s dominance in the first phase. The RJD, under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav, is focusing on consolidating its traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank, while also attempting to bring together other backward castes. The Mahagathbandhan is also likely to appeal to the Dalit and marginalized sections of society, hoping to make significant electoral gains in the northern and central regions of Bihar.
The Mahagathbandhan will also look to exploit any cracks in the NDA’s alliance, particularly in constituencies where JD(U) and BJP have differences. The RJD’s approach will be to present a united front, emphasizing social justice and inclusive development as key campaign issues.
Challenges for Smaller Parties
This time, the Election Commission’s decision to hold the Bihar Assembly elections in two phases has raised concerns for smaller regional parties. Political analysts suggest that smaller parties may face difficulties in organizing campaigns and managing resources over two phases. The larger, well-established parties like the NDA and Mahagathbandhan, with their superior organizational structures and resources, are expected to benefit from the two-phase election schedule. Smaller parties will need to be resourceful and strategic in their approach to overcome these challenges.
With the first phase of voting just around the corner, the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections promise to be a hard-fought battle between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the outcome of this election will depend on how effectively both alliances can consolidate their vote banks and appeal to new voters. The intense competition in constituencies across the state, especially in northern and central Bihar, will make this election one of the most closely watched in recent years. Voters are expected to have a significant impact on shaping the future political trajectory of Bihar, and the election results will be a reflection of the state’s ever-changing political dynamics.
