Mon Oct 06 16:25:15 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections, to be held in two phases on November 6th and 11th, 2025, with vote counting on November 14th. The election will cover all 243 constituencies. Bypolls for several constituencies across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, Punjab, Mizoram, and Odisha, will coincide with the second phase. The state has a large electorate, including a significant number of first-time voters and senior citizens. The ECI highlighted efforts to purify the electoral rolls, removing duplicate entries and ineligible voters. New initiatives include webcasting at all polling stations, increased security measures, and a digital platform for real-time updates. The ECI has also addressed concerns about vote counting, emphasizing the importance of postal ballots and VVPAT verification.

**News Article:**

**Bihar Assembly Elections Set for November: Two-Phase Poll Announced**

**NEW DELHI, October 6, 2025** – The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections, setting the stage for a crucial political contest in the state. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar unveiled the two-phase polling plan at a press conference in New Delhi.

The first phase, covering 121 constituencies, will take place on November 6th. The remaining 122 constituencies will vote on November 11th. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14th.

“The elections will be conducted in a free and fair manner, ensuring maximum participation from the voters,” stated CEC Kumar.

Alongside the Bihar elections, bypolls will be held on November 11th for constituencies in Budgam and Nagrota (Jammu and Kashmir); Anta (Rajasthan); Ghatsila (Jharkhand); Jubilee Hills (Telangana); Tarn Taran (Punjab); Dampa (Mizoram); and Nuapada (Odisha).

Bihar has a substantial electorate of 7.43 crore voters, comprising 3.92 crore men, 3.50 crore women, and 1,725 transgender persons. A significant portion of the electorate consists of first-time voters (1.4 million) and senior citizens (over 400,000 aged above 85).

The ECI emphasized its efforts to cleanse the electoral rolls, removing nearly 69 lakh entries due to deaths, migration, or ineligibility.

Several new initiatives have been introduced for these elections, including webcasting at all polling stations and a digital platform (ECINet) providing real-time voter turnout updates. The Commission has also mandated the completion of postal ballot counting before the final EVM/VVPAT rounds, and addressed VVPAT slip verification procedures to ensure accuracy.

Security measures will be enhanced, including police patrolling on horseback in riverine areas and boat patrols at certain polling stations. Over 8.5 lakh officials, including polling personnel and security forces, will be deployed to ensure a smooth and secure election process.

Political parties are now gearing up for intense campaigning as they vie for the support of Bihar’s voters. The announcement marks the official start of a period of heightened political activity in the state.

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