Bihar Elections 2025: A Reflection on Enduring Challenges and Missed Opportunities

The air in Bihar is already thick with political anticipation, as the Election Commission of India has announced the dates for the 2025 Assembly elections. Polling is set to unfold in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes on November 14 WIONews, NDTV. With 243 constituencies at stake, and a staggering 74.2 million people eligible to cast their votes across 90,712 polling stations, the sheer scale of this democratic exercise is, as always, immense.

The Lingering Shadow of 'Ghost Voters'

As I reflect on these upcoming elections, my mind immediately harks back to a concern I raised years ago. In 2013, I wrote about the detection of 7.6 million duplicate and fake entries in the electoral rolls across the state. This alarming figure underscores a persistent challenge that has plagued Bihar's electoral landscape for years: the presence of 'ghost voters'. While efforts have been made by the Election Commission to purify the voter lists, the potential for such irregularities to influence election outcomes remains a critical concern. Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of these rolls is paramount for upholding the foundational principles of a fair and transparent democracy, where every legitimate vote counts and illegal votes are prevented.

Broader Socio-Economic Challenges Persist

Beyond the technicalities of voter lists, Bihar faces profound socio-economic challenges that often dominate election narratives but see limited progress between cycles. Issues like inadequate infrastructure, persistent poverty, high unemployment rates, and a struggling education system continue to hold back the state's development. While political parties frequently promise transformative change, the ground reality for many citizens remains a struggle. The 2025 elections present another crucial juncture for leaders to address these deep-seated problems with concrete, sustainable solutions, rather than short-term appeasement strategies.

The Imperative of Governance and Accountability

The history of Bihar's elections is replete with examples where identity politics and caste-based affiliations have often overshadowed performance and development agendas. Voters, however, are increasingly seeking accountability from their representatives. The imperative for good governance, focused on delivering public services, fostering economic growth, and maintaining law and order, has never been stronger. As the state gears up for polling, the electorate will undoubtedly weigh the past performance of incumbent parties against the promises of challengers, seeking genuine commitment to progress and prosperity.

---

Regards,
[Hemen Parekh] Any questions? Feel free to ask my Virtual Avatar at hemenparekh.ai