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New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the much-awaited schedule for the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections on Monday, setting the stage for one of the most fiercely contested state polls this year. The poll authority has called a press conference at 4 p.m. to make the formal announcement.

The battle lines are already sharply drawn in Bihar. On one side is the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) along with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Opposing this is the Mahagathbandhan, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties. The elections are expected to be a direct clash between these two alliances, each trying to consolidate its traditional base while appealing to new voters.

The opposition camp has made the “special intensive revision” (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls a central campaign issue, alleging large-scale deletion of voters’ names. According to official data, nearly 69 lakh names were struck off the rolls in June following the revision exercise, while about 22 lakh new voters were added. Despite legal challenges, the process was upheld, with the Supreme Court refusing to stay the deletions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sought to turn the issue into a rallying point, accusing the ruling coalition of orchestrating “vote theft.” He also led a Vote Adhikar Yatra across Bihar to amplify the campaign.

For the ruling alliance, the emphasis is on contrasting its governance record with what it describes as the “jungle raaj” of the RJD era. NDA strategists believe that recalling the lawlessness and economic stagnation of the 1990s under the the RJD will help them consolidate support among the middle class and youth. At the same time, the alliance is aggressively reaching out to women voters, who have emerged as a decisive segment in Bihar politics.

In a significant move, the Nitish Kumar government recently rolled out a special incentive scheme, transferring ₹10,000 each into the accounts of 75 lakh women—about 22% of the state’s total women electorate. The initiative aims to encourage women to establish small businesses and offers further top-up support of up to ₹2 lakh for those who demonstrate growth potential. The scheme has been projected as a tool of empowerment, though the opposition has dismissed it as a pre-poll sop.

The Bihar polls are not just a battle for Patna’s corridors of power but also a crucial test of political narratives at the national level. For the NDA, there will be a referendum on Nitish Kumar’s leadership and the BJP-JDU partnership. For the opposition, the elections will gauge whether Rahul Gandhi’s new pitch on electoral rights can resonate with the masses. With women voters, young first-time voters, and caste alliances all playing pivotal roles, the upcoming Bihar elections are poised to be a multi-dimensional contest where every narrative could tip the scales.