Voter demographics paint a diverse picture: 6.44 crore total electors, split nearly evenly between 3.28 crore males and 3.16 crore females, plus a small third-gender cohort of 1,152. Youth power is evident with 5.23 lakh debutant voters and 1.31 crore in the 20-29 bracket. The Commission is prioritizing accessibility for 3.79 lakh super-senior voters over 85 and 4.16 lakh differently-abled individuals, alongside stringent security and EVM education drives.

Unlike the protracted eight-phase 2021 elections necessitated by security and law-order concerns, this edition aims for brevity. Mamata Banerjee’s TMC had swept 215 seats last time, clinching 48% votes and decimating rivals. BJP grabbed 77, becoming the official opposition, while Left and Congress drew blanks.

Muslim voters, around 30% of Bengal’s populace, hold sway in key pockets like South 24 Parganas, Uttar Dinajpur, and Murshidabad, where they form over 50% in several seats. Their role could be decisive amid rising political temperatures. With phases reduced, parties face tighter timelines to mobilize, promising a razor-sharp campaign season ahead.

The Election Commission team has reached Patna to oversee the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, are on a two-day visit to the capital. During this time, the commission’s team will review the election preparations.

A meeting with political parties is scheduled for today at 10 AM. It is believed that this meeting will take place at the Taj Hotel in Patna, involving high-level discussions with political parties. The Election Commission has invited major parties from the state, including BJP, JDU, RJD, and Congress, to this meeting.

On Friday, the Election Commission held a briefing session for over 400 officers at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi. These officers will be deployed as central observers for the Bihar elections and various by-elections across the country. The Election Commission addressed over 400 central observers appointed for the Bihar elections and by-elections, referring to them as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the commission on the ground.

In a meeting of general, police, and expenditure observers appointed by the Election Commission for the Bihar elections, officers were instructed to be aware of all election laws, rules, and guidelines and to ensure their strict and impartial compliance.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Bihar Assembly election dates. Following the Election Commissioner’s visit to Bihar, it is expected that the dates will be announced soon. Typically, before the elections, the commission assesses the current situation in the state and the government machinery, along with the election preparations. The election dates are announced after this assessment.

The BJP state president urged the Election Commission to hold the elections in two phases, arguing that multiple phases cause inconvenience to voters. They also contended that elections spread over more phases lead to increased expenses for candidates. The Bihar BJP has requested that the elections be held 28 days after the announcement.

Prior to the meeting, the Election Commission had appealed to all nationally and state-recognized parties to participate. Following this meeting, it is anticipated that the Election Commission will announce the election dates within the next week.

Before the Chief Election Commissioner’s visit to Bihar, a meeting of observers appointed by the commission will be held in Delhi on Friday. All election observers, police, and other officials will participate in this meeting. Generally, the dates of the elections are announced after a visit by a full member of the Election Commission to any state. Therefore, it is believed that the announcement of the Bihar elections could be made anytime after October 5th.

The Election Commission has decided to deploy a total of 470 officers, including 320 IAS and 60 IPS officers, as central observers for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. These observers will also be deployed for the by-elections to be held in 8 other states besides Bihar. The meeting on Friday will be held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Dwarka at 10 AM.

The Election Commission has also released the final voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. 14 lakh new voters have been added to the final voter list. Any person can view their details in the voter list through the link provided on the commission’s website. Information for the voter list can be obtained by visiting https://voters.eci.gov.in/.

Before the Chief Election Commissioner’s visit, a meeting of the observers appointed by the commission will be held in Delhi on Friday. This meeting will include all election observers, police officials, and other officers. Election dates are generally announced after a visit by a full member of the Election Commission to a state. Therefore, it is believed that the announcement of the Bihar elections may be made anytime after October 5th.

Election Commission has decided to deploy a total of 470 officers, including 320 IAS and 60 IPS officers, as central observers for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. These observers will also be deployed for the by-elections in 8 states. The meeting on Friday will take place at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Dwarka at 10 am.

The Election Commission has also released the final voter list after the SIR process. 14 lakh new voters have been added to the final voter list. Anyone can view their details in the voter list through the link provided on the commission’s website. Information can be obtained by visiting https://voters.eci.gov.in/ for the voter list.

After the SIR process began, there were 7.89 crore voters in Bihar on June 24th. While 65 lakh voters’ names were removed before the draft list was released, the list contained 7.24 crore voters. 4 lakh ineligible voters were removed from the draft list. 21 lakh eligible voters were included through Form 6. The final list released on September 30th included 7.41 crore voters.

The final voter list was released on Tuesday after the SIR process conducted in Bihar before the assembly elections. Voters can check their details in the voter list through a link provided on the Election Commission’s website. Information can be obtained by visiting https://voters.eci.gov.in/.

**Opportunity to Register Until 10 Days Before Nomination**

If a voter’s name is missing, it can be added up to 10 days before the last date of nomination for the elections. Form 6 must be filled to register or add a name if it is missing. The physical copy of the final voter list will be handed over to all District Magistrates and 12 recognized political parties today, with photography also being done.

The final voter list was published after the completion of the special intensive revision of the voter list in Bihar, conducted after a long gap of 22 years. The draft voter list was published on August 1, and claims and objections from people and political parties were taken until September 1. The draft list contains 72.4 million voters.

**Opposition Continues to Oppose SIR**

However, the opposition parties strongly criticized the SIR exercise just before the elections and also claimed that it would deprive millions of genuine citizens of their right to vote. On the other hand, the Election Commission, after the criticism from the opposition parties, claimed that it would not remove any eligible citizen from the voter list and would not include any ineligible person in the list.

The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly is ending on November 22. The last assembly elections here were held in 2020 in three phases.

**Election Dates Likely to be Announced Next Week**

After the release of the final voter list, the Election Commission is likely to announce the election schedule next week. Before this, the Election Commission will visit Patna on October 4 and 5 to assess the election preparations in Bihar. Sources have indicated that the announcement of the assembly election schedule may take place next week.

It is speculated that the first phase of voting may take place at the end of October, immediately after the Chhath Puja. The Election Commission is going to deploy 470 observers for the elections in Bihar and by-elections in some states.

Conversely, Bangladesh struggles to set election dates despite the establishment of an interim government under Muhammad Yunus a year prior. Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5, 2024, President Mohammad Shahabuddin appointed Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government on August 7, yet elections have not materialized a year later.

Seat distribution will largely follow the pattern of the previous assembly elections, although adjustments will be necessary for Chirag Paswan. Sources suggest that he is seeking forty-plus seats. BJP sources believe that Paswan’s demand for more seats is a political necessity to maintain the morale of his supporters. According to sources, Chirag Paswan is essential for the alliance, and his sentiments will be considered in the seat allocation. However, the JDU is not inclined to offer Paswan more than 20 seats.

Nitish Kumar has previously had a complex relationship with both Ram Vilas Paswan and Chirag Paswan. Consequently, Chirag might face consequences in the seat allocation process. Meanwhile, the BJP and JDU have agreed to contest on more than 100 seats each, but the JDU will contest on slightly more seats than the BJP to project itself as the senior partner in Bihar. Some seats will also be allocated to Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha.

It is anticipated that the elections will be conducted in two to three phases. Nitish Kumar will lead the elections. He will decide the future course after winning the election. Concerns exist regarding Nitish Kumar’s health, but he will make the decisions on this matter. The Bihar Assembly elections may take place in two to three phases. The election dates will be determined considering Diwali and Chhath Puja. The term of the Bihar Assembly concludes on November 22, 2025, necessitating the completion of the election process before that date.

Diwali falls on October 20 this year, while Chhath Puja will be celebrated between October 25-28. In 2020, the elections were held in three phases, and in 2015, they were conducted in five phases. In 2020, the first phase saw voting on 71 assembly seats on October 28, 2020. The second phase had voting on 94 assembly seats on November 3, 2020. The third and final phase involved voting on 78 assembly seats on November 7, 2020. The counting of votes took place on November 10, 2020.