Bihar Elections 2025: How the state voted in last 2 polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is poised to announce the crucial schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections on 6 October, 2025 marking the formal commencement of the high-stakes political phase in the state.

The briefing, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, follows the ECI delegation's thorough review of election preparedness in Bihar, which concluded a day earlier after meetings with major political party representatives and assessments of necessary logistical arrangements.

The elections are constitutionally mandated to take place before the term of the current Bihar Assembly expires on November 22. Sources indicate the ECI has meticulously planned the schedule to avoid overlapping with major festivals such as Diwali and Chhath, which fall between October 18 and October 28. This move is designed to ensure maximum voter turnout and smooth polling operations.

High Stakes and Political Landscape

The 2025 Bihar elections are set to witness a fierce contest. The incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal(United), faces a strong challenge from the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), led primarily by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.

Adding a fresh dimension to the race is Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, positioning itself as a potential alternative force, which could complicate vote arithmetic for both major blocs.

Last Two Bihar Elections

In the 2020 Assembly elections, the NDA secured a majority with 125 seats, narrowly defeating the Mahagathbandhan, which won 110 seats. The RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats. That contest, conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded a voter turnout of 56.93 per cent.

Bihar Elections Vote Share Dynamics

Let us now understand the vote share that each party secured over the last three elections