Final showdown in Bihar: 3.7 crore voters to decide fate of 1,302 candidates across 122 seats

The second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is underway today across 122 constituencies, where 3.70 crore voters will determine the political future of 1,302 candidates. Polling is scheduled from 7 am to 6 pm, with timings adjusted in select booths based on local security assessments.

A total of 45,399 polling stations have been set up, including 40,073 in rural areas, and to ensure peaceful voting amid Bihar’s history of poll-related violence and Maoist activity, the Election Commission has deployed over four lakh security personnel. This includes around 1,500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), engaged in area domination, flag marches, and static deployment at sensitive polling stations, with Quick Reaction Teams and mobile reserves ready for rapid response.

State forces complement this with over 60,000 Bihar Police personnel, 30,000 from the Bihar Special Armed Police, 20,000 home guards, around 19,000 newly recruited constables, and approximately 1.5 lakh rural chowkidars, while reserve battalions from other states assist. Joint control rooms at district and sub-divisional levels coordinate CAPF, state police, and civil authorities to maintain law and order. Webcasting and live-monitoring arrangements have been made in more than 20,000 polling stations, particularly in sensitive pockets. The Election Commission is also exploring technology-driven measures for future polls, including drone surveillance, predictive analytics, GIS-linked control centres, real-time reporting apps, cyber monitoring, and GPS tracking of polling teams.

The first phase of polling across 121 constituencies last week recorded a historic turnout of over 65 per cent, the highest ever for an opening phase in Bihar. Historically, Phase 2 has lagged behind Phase 1 in turnout. In the last three Assembly elections, Phase 2 turnout was approximately 55.35 per cent in 2015, 54.15 per cent in 2020, and about 55 per cent in the combined Phase 2 constituencies that year. This year, with the record high turnout in Phase 1, officials expect a significant surge in voter participation for Phase 2, potentially matching or even surpassing the 65 per cent mark, signaling increased public engagement and enthusiasm.

Of the 3.70 crore eligible voters in this phase, over 1.75 crore are women, 2.28 crore fall in the 30-60 age group, and around 7.69 lakh are in the 18-19 bracket. Hisua (Nawada) has the largest electorate, while Lauria, Chanpatia, Raxaul, Triveniganj, Sugauli, and Banmakhi have the highest number of candidates (22 each). General, expenditure, and police observers have been deployed across districts, and Election Commission field monitoring teams are stationed throughout. Polling concludes this evening, with counting to follow after voting ends across the state.