India, Oct. 6 -- With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing two-phase Bihar assembly elections on November 6 and 11 - coinciding with the state's festive season beginning with Diwali on October 20 and culminating in Chhath on October 28 -, political parties across the spectrum expect that the home coming of a significant section of the state's nearly 10 million migrant population for the celebrations would potentially boost the voter turnout.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJPP) member of Parliament (MP) from Nawada and member of the state campaign committee, Vivek Thakur, said the festive period often reshapes the state's campaign dynamics. "Chhath is when all public meetings are put on hold. The candidates move around the ghats as...