Bihar Assembly Elections Phase 2 Ends Peacefully with 68.79% Turnout

Patna, Nov 2025 : The second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded peacefully on Tuesday across 122 constituencies, recording a voter turnout of 68.79 percent by the close of polling. Officials expect this figure to rise once complete data from all polling stations is compiled.

Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, Vinod Gunjiyal, said the election passed without any major untoward incidents. “According to reports received so far, 68.79 percent of voters have exercised their franchise. This is not the final figure and is likely to increase as updates continue to come in,” he said. He added that data from many polling stations—especially remote ones—was still being processed.

A key feature of this election was the use of webcasting at every polling station, ensuring real-time monitoring and transparency. When combined with the first phase, the overall voter turnout stood at 66.90 percent. This marks a 9.6 percent jump compared to the previous Assembly elections, indicating heightened voter enthusiasm and political engagement this year.

CEO Gunjiyal also pointed out that, unlike earlier elections, no polling booth was shifted from Naxal-affected areas, highlighting improved security and confidence in the arrangements. In earlier years, vulnerable booths were often relocated due to security risks.

In Tuesday’s polling, over 3.7 crore voters across 122 seats decided the political fate of 1,302 candidates. With several heavyweight leaders from both the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance contesting in this phase, the stakes remained exceptionally high.

To accommodate the large electorate, a total of 45,399 polling stations were established, including 5,326 in urban areas and 40,073 in rural regions. Voter enthusiasm was evident from early morning, with many stations witnessing long queues even before polling officially began.

Security forces maintained strict vigil throughout the day. Nearly four lakh security personnel, including armed contingents, were deployed to ensure smooth and safe polling. Their presence was particularly significant in districts with a history of security concerns.

The second phase covered a wide geographical spread, with elections held in the districts of East Champaran, West Champaran, Shivhar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Banka, Kaimur, Rohtas, Arwal, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jehanabad, and Jamui. Each of these constituencies saw active participation from both leading alliances and smaller parties.

In this phase, the NDA fielded 122 candidates, including 53 from the BJP, 44 from the JD(U), 15 from the LJP (Ram Vilas), six from the Hindustani Awam Morcha, and four from the Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Grand Alliance, on the other hand, had 127 candidates in the race—comprising 71 from the RJD, 37 from the Congress, six from the CPI(ML), four from the CPI, eight from the VIP, and one from the CPI(M).

The first phase of voting, held on November 6, covered 121 of the state’s 243 constituencies. With polling in both phases now complete, all eyes turn to November 14, when the counting of votes will decide the political direction of Bihar.

As Bihar awaits the verdict, the peaceful conduct and increased voter participation in both phases reflect a strengthening democratic spirit across the state.