The high-stakes battle for Bihar will reach its conclusion on Tuesday when 122 assembly constituencies across 20 districts go to the polls in the second and final phase of voting. This round will decide the fate of 1,302 candidates, including a dozen sitting ministers, and determine who forms the next government.

According to officials, around 37 million people, including 17.4 million women, are eligible to cast their votes at 45,399 polling stations.

Strong turnout expected after record first phase

The first phase of polling, held on November 6, covered 121 constituencies across 18 districts and saw a record voter turnout of 65.08%, the highest ever in the state. This came after a revision of electoral rolls reduced Bihar’s electorate from 78.9 million to 74.2 million.

An official from the Bihar Chief Electoral Office said, “Of the total 45,399 polling stations, 40,073 are in rural areas. We have arranged for webcasting at all the 45,399 booths. The average number of electors per polling station is 815.”

Political landscape: a close contest between alliances

In the 2020 assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) won 49 of the 122 seats now going to polls, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 66. The AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, won five seats, and both the BSP and an Independent candidate won one each.

This phase is crucial for both alliances, as it includes several strongholds of top leaders from the NDA and Mahagathbandhan.

Ministers and top leaders in the fray

Many senior ministers from the Nitish Kumar government are contesting in this phase. They include:

• Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul) – Power Minister

• Nitish Mishra (Jhanjharpur) – Industries Minister

• Sheela Kumari Mandal (Phulparas) – Transport and Communication Minister

• Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu (Chhatapur) – Public Health and Engineering Minister

• Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsidih) – Sugarcane Industries Minister

• Leshi Singh (Dhamdaha) – Food and Consumer Protection Minister

• Jayant Raj Kushwaha (Amarpur) – Rural Works Minister

• Prem Kumar (Gaya Town) – Cooperative Minister

• Sumit Kumar Singh (Chakai) – Science and Technology Minister

• Mohammad Zama Khan (Chainpur) – Minority Welfare Minister

• Renu Devi (Bettiah) – Animal and Fisheries Resources Minister and former Deputy CM

Also contesting are former Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad (Katihar), former Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary (Sikandra), and several ex-ministers including Vinay Bihari (Lauriya), Narayan Prasad (Nautan), Shamim Ahmed (Narkatia), Rana Randhir Singh (Madhuban), Pramod Kumar (Motihari), and Sunil Kumar Pintu (Sitamarhi).

Regional party chiefs and new faces enter the race

The second phase also features state party presidents such as Rajesh Ram (Congress, Kutumba), Raju Tiwary (LJP–Ram Vilas, Gobindganj), and Anil Kumar (HAM–S, Tikari).

New and regional contenders include Ritesh Pandey, a Bhojpuri actor-singer from Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, contesting from Kargahar (Rohtas). Another Jan Suraaj candidate, Dhirendra Agrawal, is challenging BJP veteran Prem Kumar in Gaya Town.

Snehlata Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), wife of Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, is contesting from Sasaram, while Dipa Kumari of HAM(S), daughter-in-law of Jitan Ram Manjhi, is contesting from Imamganj.

Seat distribution among alliances

For the NDA, the BJP has fielded candidates in 53 seats, JD(U) in 44, LJP (Ram Vilas) in 15, HAM (Secular) in six, and Rashtriya Lok Manch in four.

In the opposition INDIA bloc, the RJD is contesting 72 seats, the Congress 37, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) eight, the CPI(ML) Liberation six, the CPI four, and the CPI(M) one.

However, internal rifts have appeared within the INDIA alliance, as multiple partners are contesting against each other on six seats — Kargahar (CPI–Congress), Narkatiaganj (RJD–Congress), Kahalgaon (RJD–Congress), Sultanganj (RJD–Congress), Chainpur (RJD–VIP), and Sikandra (RJD–Congress).

Security arrangements and expectations

To ensure smooth and fair elections, 1,625 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed across polling stations.

The JD(U) expressed optimism about its performance. Party spokesperson Abhishek Jha said, “We hope to get anywhere between 30 and 35 seats... Overall, the NDA is likely to get 75–80.”

The RJD, on the other hand, claimed that the opposition bloc would make significant gains. RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwary said, “Like the record turnout in the first phase, people will once again turn up to vote in large numbers in what will be a vote for change and for a better Bihar.”