The second and final phase of the high-stakes Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is underway today, with a voter turnout of 31.38% recorded till 11 am. The electoral battle, spanning 122 constituencies across 20 districts, is poised to decide the political fate of the state.
According to the Election Commission, the district of Kishanganj registered the highest voter participation in the initial hours, setting a brisk pace for the day. This phase brings the extensive electoral process to a close, following the first phase on November 6, which saw a robust 65% voter turnout.
A Massive Electoral Exercise
The scale of this democratic festival is immense. A total of 1,302 candidates are in the fray across the 122 constituencies. Nearly 3.7 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise at 45,399 polling stations, which will remain open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The counting of votes for both phases is scheduled for November 14, a day that will determine the next government of Bihar.
The Political Stakes
The political landscape for these 122 seats is sharply defined. A look back at the 2020 Assembly polls reveals a closely contested battleground. Of the seats voting today, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 66, while the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) had secured 49. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had won 5 seats, with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and an Independent candidate winning one seat each.
The NDA, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) or HAMS, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) or LJP (RV), and other allies, is seeking to retain power for a second consecutive term under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Challenging them is the Mahagathbandhan, a coalition of the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), left parties, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which is aiming to make a comeback and regain its former influence in the state.
The Final Leg
As voters queue up across the state, the focus is on whether the initial 31.38% turnout will surge to match or exceed the impressive 65% mark set in the first phase. The performance in these 122 seats, particularly in key districts like Kishanganj, will be crucial in determining which alliance crosses the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member assembly. All eyes are now on Bihar as the state concludes its pivotal electoral exercise.
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