Bihar registered its highest-ever voter turnout of 67.14 per cent (provisional) on Tuesday at the close of polling in the second and final phase of the high-stakes assembly elections, widely viewed as a referendum on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state’s longest-serving leader, news agency PTI reported.
Polling was held across 122 constituencies with a total of 3.70 crore voters, surpassing the previous record of 65.09 per cent turnout recorded in the first phase on November 6. Election officials said the final figure could rise further as voters were still queued up at several polling booths when voting officially ended.
Kishanganj, the lone Muslim-majority district in Bihar, reported the highest polling percentage at 76.26 per cent, followed by Katihar (75.23 per cent) Purnea (73.79 per cent), Supaul (70.69 per cent), and Araria (67.79 per cent), reported PTI.
Most of these districts are located along the Nepal border in the state’s flood-prone Kosi-Seemanchal region, which has a significant minority population.
High voter participation was also seen in South Bihar, including Jamui (67.81 per cent) Gaya (67.50 per cent), and Kaimur (67.22 per cent), while Nawada recorded the lowest turnout at 57.31 per cent, making it the only district failing to cross the 60 per cent mark till 5 pm, PTI reported.
Although Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a member of the legislative council, is not contesting himself, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is relying heavily on his image of “good governance” to counter anti-incumbency. The second phase features eight ministers from his cabinet, making it a crucial test for the ruling alliance as well as the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, which is banking on voter fatigue with the government and the support of Muslim voters in the Seemanchal belt.
The phase is particularly significant for the Congress, the second-largest constituent of the INDIA bloc in Bihar. Of the 19 seats it won in the 2020 assembly elections, 12 went to polls in this round. Among its key candidates are state party president Rajesh Kumar Ram (Kutumba) and sitting legislator Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Kadwa).
In all, 1,302 candidates, including several ministers in the Nitish Kumar Government, were in the fray for the second phase of Bihar Election 2025.
Voting began at 7 am under tight security and continued till 5 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar both urged citizens to turn out in large numbers ahead of polling.
“Today marks the second and final phase of voting in the Bihar assembly elections. I urge all voters to participate enthusiastically and set a new voting record,” the Prime Minister posted on X, encouraging first-time voters to inspire others as well.
The Chief Minister echoing a similar sentiment, said voting was “not only our right, but also a responsibility”.
Polling was conducted in West and East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj districts, most of which share borders with Nepal. These areas have a high concentration of Muslim voters, making them key battlegrounds for both alliances — the INDIA bloc, which counts on minority support, and the NDA, which has accused the Opposition of shielding infiltrators.
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”.
Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, seen as the X-factor in Bihar Election 2025, claimed that the surge in voter turnout reflected the people’s growing search for an “alternative” — which, he said, they have found in his year-old political outfit.
(With PTI inputs)