Bihar Assembly Elections: Voting begins for final phase across 122 constituencies

Patna: Polling began on Tuesday morning for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, with 3.7 crore voters set to decide the fate of 1,302 candidates contesting across 122 constituencies, officials said. Voting started at 7 am and will continue until 5 pm, under tight security arrangements.

Several prominent ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government are in the fray in this decisive phase. The districts voting today include West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj — all bordering Nepal.

Many of these constituencies fall within the Seemanchal region, known for its high Muslim population, making it a crucial battleground for both the INDIA bloc, which relies on minority support, and the ruling NDA, which has accused the opposition of “protecting infiltrators.”

This round is also being viewed as a test of strength for smaller NDA allies such as Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), headed by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

Prominent contenders include Bijendra Prasad Yadav of the JD(U), the senior-most cabinet member seeking an eighth consecutive win from Supaul, and Prem Kumar of the BJP, who aims to retain his Gaya Town seat for the eighth time since 1990. Other ministers in the contest include Renu Devi (Bettiah), Neeraj Kumar Singh “Bablu” (Chhatapur), Leshi Singh (Dhamdaha), Sheela Mandal (Phulparas), and Zama Khan (Chainpur). Former Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad is also seeking re-election from Katihar for a fifth consecutive term.

Heightened security after Delhi blast
A high alert has been issued across Bihar following the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort metro station on Monday, which killed at least eight people, Director General of Police Vinay Kumar said.

“The Bihar Police have been directed to maintain strict vigilance and intensify patrolling to prevent any untoward incident,” Kumar told PTI.

Security has been tightened around major public places, including tourist sites such as the Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya), Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Rajgir), Mahaveer Temple, and Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji (Patna), as well as airports, industrial units like Barauni Refinery and NTPC Barh, and the Indian Oil Terminal at Sipara.

Enhanced security measures are also in place at key government and judicial buildings, including the Vidhan Sabha, Raj Bhavan, Secretariat, Patna High Court, and district courts.

Patrolling has been intensified around shopping malls, transport hubs, hospitals, and educational institutions, while the police are also keeping a close watch on social media activity across the state, the DGP added.