Sat Sep 27 17:24:55 UTC 2025: ## Summary of the Text:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is scheduled to visit Bihar on October 4-5, 2025, to assess the state’s readiness for the upcoming Assembly elections. This visit follows a contentious special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and precedes the expected announcement of the election dates, likely after October 5th. The Bihar election is politically significant for both the NDA and the INDIA bloc, potentially influencing future Assembly polls. Opposition parties have criticized the SIR, alleging mass disenfranchisement and potential manipulation of voter lists.

## News Article:

**Bihar Assembly Elections: ECI to Visit Amid Controversy Over Voter Roll Revision**

**New Delhi – September 27, 2025:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) will be visiting Bihar on October 4th and 5th to review the state’s preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections, sources within the commission have confirmed. The high-level visit, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, comes amidst growing controversy surrounding the recent special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The ECI officials are expected to meet with the Chief Electoral Officer and other key state officials in Patna. Prior to the visit, a meeting of General, Police, and Expenditure Observers appointed for the Bihar elections is scheduled for October 3rd in the national capital.

Traditionally, the ECI announces election dates shortly after such visits, indicating that the schedule for the Bihar polls could be revealed soon after October 5th. The entire election process is mandated to conclude before November 22nd.

This will be the first ECI visit to Bihar since the implementation of the SIR, a process that saw the draft list contain 7.24 crore voters, while around 65 lakh names were omitted for various reasons. This controversial exercise has drawn heavy criticism from opposition parties, particularly the ‘mahagathbandhan’ led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, who allege mass disenfranchisement and manipulation of voter lists. They claim the SIR is being used to suppress votes, with the potential to influence the election outcome.

The Bihar election is considered a crucial battleground for both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc, as its outcome could significantly impact the political landscape in the run-up to Assembly polls in five other states next year. The INDIA bloc is expected to leverage the controversy surrounding the SIR to amplify their claims of “vote chori” (vote theft), potentially escalating tensions during the election period.

The previous Bihar Assembly elections in October-November 2020 resulted in the formation of an NDA government, with Nitish Kumar assuming the role of Chief Minister. The upcoming elections will be closely watched for any significant shifts in voter sentiment and the impact of the contentious voter roll revision.

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