Key election held in eastern Indian state following controversial BJP voting law

The eastern Indian state of Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in a crucial election seen as a precursor to several upcoming state polls. The election follows a controversial revision of electoral rolls, which the opposition claimed would exclude genuine voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to India’s Election Commission (EC), “64.66% votes were polled for 243 seats” in a two-phase election to choose the next state government — the highest turnout the state has ever seen. Vote counting is scheduled for November 14, according to a BBC report.

Long queues were seen throughout the day outside polling stations across all 18 districts where voting took place this week, with the second and final phase scheduled for November 11.

Over 400,000 polling staff facilitated voting at approximately 45,341 polling stations across the state, which has about 74 million eligible voters.

Bihar, one of India’s poorest yet most populous states, has long seen millions of its residents migrate elsewhere in search of work. It remains one of the few Indian states where Modi’s party has yet to form a government on its own.

This election follows a controversial voter list revision carried out by the EC a few months ago. In September, the commission published a list of 74.2 million voters, having removed 4.7 million names.

The opposition sharply criticised the move, accusing the EC of deleting many legitimate voters — particularly Muslims — to favour Modi’s BJP. Both the BJP and the Election Commission have denied the allegation.

Analysts say that women voters are expected to play a decisive role in this election — nearly half of the electorate are women, and their participation has been rising steadily.

Political analyst Santosh Singh noted that “women in Bihar are more likely to vote over issues,” prompting political parties to focus on them with various welfare schemes. Both major alliances have promised financial support to attract women voters.

Who is up for the elections?

The outgoing government is an alliance between the BJP and the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U). The two parties are contesting together again, while the main opposition Congress has partnered with the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and several smaller parties.

The election also marks the debut of a new political party led by Prashant Kishor, a former political strategist who has previously worked with both the BJP and the Congress.

This election is being closely watched as it could be the last to feature active participation from two political heavyweights who have dominated Bihar’s politics for nearly four decades — JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar and RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav. Both leaders, reportedly in poor health, have at times allied to retain power.

Incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remains one of Bihar’s most influential leaders, having led the state government for much of the past twenty years. As the BBC notes, he is “a key ally of the BJP” and played a significant role in helping Modi’s party form the federal government after the 2024 election.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, who served as chief minister from 1990 to 1997, is known for his colourful persona and sharp wit. His rise as a champion of marginalised caste groups reshaped Bihar’s political landscape, though his tenure later became synonymous with misrule and corruption. He is currently out on bail after being convicted in several corruption cases.

Yadav’s son, Tejashwi Yadav, has been projected as the chief ministerial candidate for the opposition alliance.

By Nazrin Sadigova