Patna: The Election Commission had on September 9 announced the dates for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly Elections 2015. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announced the dates for five-phase elections for the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly.
The first phase of the election will be held on October 12, the second on October 16, the third on October 28, the fourth on November 1 and the fifth and last on November 5, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.
After the announcement by the EC, Model Code of Conduct is now in place in Bihar.
Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies and 6.68 crore voters. The term of the current Assembly expires on November 29.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the 'Grand Alliance' of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his foe-turned-friend Lalu Prasad (RJD) and the Congress are locked in a close fight since the Bihar Election results 2015 likely to have a strong bearing on the national political scene.
The Bihar Assembly polls 2015 are crucial for the BJP if it is to restore the political momentum in favour of the Narendra Modi government after suffering reverses over a host of issues, starting from its rout in the Delhi Assembly polls and failure to push ahead with reforms like the land bill and the GST.
Here is the complete schedule for the five-phased Bihar Assembly Elections 2015:-
Bihar Election / Polls First Phase:
49 assembly seats will be covered in Phase I which includes Samastipur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Banka, Khagaria, Munger, Lakhisarai, Shekhpura, Nawada and Jamui
Bihar Election / Polls Second Phase:
32 assembly seats will be covered in second phase which includes Kaimur, Rohtas, Arwal, Jahanabad, Aurangabad and Gaya
Bihar Election / Polls Third Phase:
50 assembly seats will be covered in Phase III which includes Saran,Vaishali,Nalanda,Patna,Bhojpur, Buxar.
Bihar Election / Polls Fourth Phase:
55 assembly seats will be covered in Phase IV which includes Pashim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan
Bihar Election / Polls Fifth Phase:
57 assembly seats will be covered in Phase V which includes Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishangaj, Purnia, Katihar, Madhepura, Saharsa, Darbhanga.
Bihar Assembly Election Counting, Notification, Result dates are given below:-
Given below is the detailed schedule of the five-phase 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, voting for which will be held on October 12, October 16, October 28, November 1 and November 5. The counting of votes for the 2015 Bihar Assembly Polls will be held on November 8 (Sunday). Importantly, the elections will end before the big festival of Diwali on November 11.
| Bihar Assembly Elections 2015 Schedule: | |
| First Phase: | |
| Date of notification | September 16 |
| Last date of nomination | September 23 |
| Date of scrutiny | September 24 |
| Last date of withdrawal of nomination | September 26 |
| Date of polling | October 12 |
| Second Phase: | |
| Date of notification | September 21 |
| Last date of nomination | September 28 |
| Date of scrutiny | September 29 |
| Last date of withdrawal of nomination | October 1 |
| Date of polling | October 16 |
| Third Phase: | |
| Date of notification | October 1 |
| Last date of nomination | October 8 |
| Date of scrutiny | October 9 |
| Last date of withdrawal of nomination | October 12 |
| Date of polling | October 28 |
| Fourth Phase: | |
| Date of notification | October 7 |
| Last date of nomination | October 14 |
| Date of scrutiny | October 15 |
| Last date of withdrawal of nomination | October 17 |
| Date of polling | November 1 |
| Fifth Phase: | |
| Date of notification | October 8 |
| Last date of nomination | October 15 |
| Date of scrutiny | October 17 |
| Last date of withdrawal of nomination | October 19 |
| Date of polling | November 5 |
| Counting of votes on November 8 | |
| Poll exercise to be completed by November 12 | |
