Bihar will elect a new 243-member assembly during staggered month-long polling that begins October 21 and ends November 20, the Election Commission announced on Monday.

Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi told reporters that the dates of polling would be October 21 (47 seats), October 24 (45) and October 28 (48) as well as November 1 (42), November 9 (35) and November 20 (26 seats).