Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: As the political blame-game unfolds in Bihar, there is a rising debate and curiosity around when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the poll dates.
The ECI has reportedly ordered Chief Secretary of Bihar and the Chief Electoral Officer to finish all transfers and postings of government officers who have remained in the same location for over 3 years. A report on the action taken over this order has been sought by October 6. This is a routine step to make sure the environment remains fair and neutral ahead of the official election announcement.
Now this could mean that the Election Commission may plan to announce Bihar poll dates after October 6th.
Why are the officers being transferred?
According to the order, accessed by Jagran, the Election Commission’s transfer order includes officers such as District Magistrates (DM), Block Development Officers (BDO), Deputy Development Commissioners (DDC), Circle Officers (CO), Zonal and Range DIGs, Commandants of State Armed Police, SSPs, SPs, Additional SPs, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, Sergeant Majors, and all officers of similar rank.
According to the Commission’s rules, officers directly involved in conducting elections in a state or Union Territory cannot be posted in their home district or in places where they have served for a long time. This means no election officer can stay in their home district. Additionally, if an officer has worked in a district for three years in the last four years, they must be transferred.
Bihar Elections 2025: Poll phases
The 2020 Bihar elections were held in three phases on October 28, November 3, and November 7, with the results announced on November 10.
This year too, the election schedule will take the festivals into account. Chhath and Diwali fall between October 18 and October 28, so authorities are likely to plan voting around these dates.
The current Assembly’s term ends on November 22, so a new Assembly must be elected and sworn in before that date. Reports suggest that this year too, the Bihar Elections will be held in three phases.
The 2025 Bihar elections is going to be a fierce contest between the ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United (JDU) and the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).