PATNA, Sept. 13 -- Upcoming festive season in Bihar in October and November will see fervour of election getting mixed with festivities of Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath. The elections are scheduled for late October or early November and political parties have already entered poll mode to win over voters. A deluge of migrants descend on Bihar to celebrate festivals at home. All parties will try to woo them as the electioneering will be at its peak during their stay in the state. The Election Commission, it is speculated, will announce multi-phase elections from the beginning of November. "There is a greater probability of elections this year starting at the start of November and ending within 15-20 days, as so far there is no announcement of schedule. By then all the important Hindu festivals will be over by October end. All the past three Assembly elections had a gap of over 35 days from the date of announcement," said former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies DM Diwakar. "Even if the elections are announced in the last week of October or first week of November, it would herald fast-paced campaigning throughout the festive season, when star campaigners of the parties would be engaged in vigorous outreach," he added. In anticipation of the magnitude of the festive rush of migrants to native Bihar, the Nitish Kumar government has also planned to facilitate the movement of people and make them feel that their welfare is the priority of the government. It is evident from the statement of deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary. "For Chhath and Diwali, the Narendra Modi government is working to facilitate the travel of migrant Biharis. Instead of the 7,500 trips of special trains to Bihar for the period approved in 2024, 12,739 trips of special trains have been approved so far this year, while notifications for 8,591 trips of special trains have already been issued and Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is himself assessing the requirements to ensure safe and convenient journey," he said. The Deputy CM also announced Rs. 24-crore worth rebate for migrants returning home in inter-state bus fare during the festival season in the buses plying under price-public partnership model. Experts said that over the last three elections, there was a definite pattern evident in Bihar -- while all elections coincided with the festive season, the schedule varied from six phases in 2010 to five in 2015 and then three in 2020 . So, will it be less than three this time? This year, Dussehra/ Vijaya Dashami falls on October 2, Karwa Chauth on October 10, Diwali on October 20, Govardhan Puja on October 22 and Bhai Dooj on October 23. The important Chhath festival, during which the entire state is submerged in utmost devotion, gets underway on October 25 and ends with the prayer of the setting Sun on October 27 and rising Sun on October 28. Kartik Purnima will be held on November 5, when lakhs of devotees take holy dip in the Ganga river. There are also other festivals during the period, but Diwali and Chhath after Dussehra are considered very important....