New Delhi: Beyond its iconic Litti Chokha and delicate Madhubani strokes lies Bihar, constantly reinventing itself, restless, young, and bursting with ambition. This land of poets and politicians, of culture and contradictions, is once again at the heart of India’s most riveting political story. With nearly 58% of its people under 25, Bihar is home to an emerging generation that carries smartphones and dreams in equal measure. Its MSME growth story, creating over 6 lakh jobs across 15+ high-potential sectors, signals a quiet economic awakening.
As this dynamic state heads into one of the most defining elections in the post-Operation Sindoor and new GST era, the high-stakes, fiercely contested pre-poll season takes center stage. In this atmosphere, Times NOW brings viewers a deeply immersive, editorially robust, and compelling programming slate capturing the pulse of Bihar like never before. This election season carries the tension of a classic David vs Goliath story. Will Prashant Kishor’s slingshot be enough to challenge the NDA’s towering presence? Or will Bihar’s traditional Maha Gathbandhan equations once again script familiar endings? As whispers of change echo through its districts, Bihar stands at a crossroads, where nostalgia meets new narratives.
Leading this journey is Times NOW’s ELECTION YATRA, a mobile newsroom that will travel 4500 km across 28 districts, transforming into a full-fledged studio delivering unfiltered voter sentiment straight from the source. From the bustling lanes of Patna to the heartlands of Raghopur, Hajipur, Nalanda, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, Times NOW’s Election Yatra will capture the voice of the state, going beyond campaign rhetoric to uncover what really drives its people.
Under Mandate 2025, Times NOW’s lineup goes deep into Bihar’s political theatre, including NATIONAL DEBATE: Dissecting Bihar’s key issues with intellectual depth and regional nuance starts on 11th October every Saturday at 8pm and Sunday 3pm; INSIDE: A documentary-style weekend special that studies the forces shaping the polls is also airing from 11th October every Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am. Further, Times NOW will also follow electoral candidates through the program ACCESS. This will help viewers get an insider’s view of the major candidates as they navigate the frenzy of the campaign trail.
Speaking about the comprehensive election programming, Navika Kumar, Group Editor-in-Chief, Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, said, “Bihar has been the historical hotbed for political movements in India and is a laboratory for all political experiments setting the tone for the national narrative. It will be the first test for the mood of voters after Op Sindoor and the much hyped “vote chori” campaign of the Opposition. Times NOW teams will be on the ground to sniff any whiff of change with new entrant Prashant Kishor –or will it be the traditional NDA vs Maha Gathbandhan fight?”
Further highlighting the comprehensive election programming, she added, “Our election coverage is built on depth, reach, and credibility. From ELECTION YATRA taking the newsroom to the ground, to powerful formats like NATIONAL DEBATE, we are not just reporting events—we are unravelling the political landscape as it unfolds. Our endeavour is to bring political discourse closer to the people and empower viewers, which helps them understand the issues and stakes and the future of our democracy.”
The election action ramps up as November draws near, with Times NOW’s Poll of Polls/ Exit Poll on November 13 which will decode voter moods and seat projections with unmatched precision, while the grand finale –Counting Day (November 14) — promises minute-by-minute updates from across the state, each number reflecting not just votes, but voices as well. From the dusty bylanes of Hajipur to the university corridors of Patna, Bihar’s democracy is as earthy as its soil and as unpredictable as its politics. It mirrors the unprecedented dynamism of India’s political collage today, and Times NOW is uniquely placed to bring each and every nuance to the viewer up close and personal.
-Based on Press Release
