Bihar on Tuesday recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 68.67 per cent in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections, a contest widely viewed as a referendum on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s long tenure.
The polling percentage across 122 constituencies, covering 3.70 crore electors, surpassed the 65.09 per cent turnout in the first phase on 6 November. Officials said the figure may rise further as queues were still visible at several booths.
Kishanganj, the state’s lone Muslim-majority district, registered the highest turnout at 76.26 per cent, followed by Katihar at 75.23 per cent and Purnea at 73.79 per cent. Supaul (70.69) and Araria (67.79) also saw heavy participation. These districts, situated along the Nepal border in the Kosi–Seemanchal belt, are known for recurrent flooding and a sizeable minority population.
South Bihar too reported brisk polling, with Jamui recording 67.81 per cent, Gaya 67.50 per cent and Kaimur 67.22 per cent. Nawada remained an outlier with 57.31 per cent, the only district yet to cross the 60 per cent mark.
Although Kumar is not contesting, the BJP-JD(U)-led NDA has framed the election around his “good governance” record as it seeks to counter anti-incumbency. The second phase holds high stakes for both the ruling coalition and the opposition INDIA bloc, which is counting on incumbency fatigue and the sizeable Muslim vote in many of the districts.
The phase is also crucial for the Congress, the second-largest constituent of the INDIA bloc in Bihar. Twelve of the 19 seats it won in 2020 are voting in this round, including constituencies represented by state president Rajesh Kumar Ram (Kutumba) and Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Kadwa).
Also read: NDA set for big win, predicts Bihar exit poll results
The first phase had seen 65.09 per cent turnout across 121 constituencies, with both alliances claiming the numbers reflected a favourable undercurrent. Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party and the wildcard in this election, attributed the rising participation to voters “finding an alternative” in his year-old outfit.
Voting began at 7 a.m. under tight security and is scheduled to continue till 5 p.m. The electoral fate of 1,302 candidates, including several ministers in the Nitish Kumar government, will be decided in this phase.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to set “a new voting record”, particularly first-time electors. “I especially urge my young friends from the state… to inspire others to do so,” he said on X. Kumar, in a social media post, reminded citizens that voting was “not only our right, but also a responsibility”.
Polling is underway in districts including West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj, many of them forming the Seemanchal region. The INDIA bloc is banking on minority support here, while the NDA has accused the opposition of “protecting infiltrators”, sharpening the contest.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said voters were “blessing the double-engine government’s ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ mantra by pressing the vote button”.
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