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**News Article:**

**Bihar Elections: Congress Finalizes First Slate of Candidates, ECI Facilitates Voting for Elderly and Disabled**

**Patna, October 9, 2025:** The political landscape in Bihar is heating up as the state gears up for upcoming Assembly elections. The Congress party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) convened on Wednesday and has reportedly approved 25 candidates for constituencies considered traditional strongholds.

While seat-sharing negotiations with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are ongoing, Congress anticipates competing for 55 to 60 of the 243 Assembly seats as part of the Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance. Key Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi, participated in the CEC meeting, signaling the party’s focus on the Bihar elections.

In a move to ensure broader participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced measures to facilitate voting for elderly citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and service electors. Those over 85 years old or with benchmark disabilities can now utilize postal ballots. Eligible voters must submit Form 12 D to their Booth Level Officer (BLO) within five days of the election notification. Polling teams will then collect ballots directly from voters’ homes.

Meanwhile, a report released by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) highlights the continued marginalization of the Scheduled Caste community in Bihar, despite representing a significant portion of the state’s population.

The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be closely contested, with issues of social justice, development, and representation taking center stage.

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