The high-stakes Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 reached their grand finale on Tuesday, 11 November, as voters across the state cast their ballots in the second and final phase. This decisive round of polling, covering 122 assembly constituencies spread over 20 districts, will determine the political future of Bihar.
A Crucial Day for Bihar's Political Landscape
The culmination of the electoral process today seals the fate of a staggering 1,302 candidates. The list includes a dozen ministers from the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, making this a direct verdict on the ruling coalition's performance. The first phase of voting, held on 6 November, set a strong precedent with a record 65 per cent voter turnout.
Voting commenced at 7:00 am and continued until 6:00 pm. The Election Commission confirmed that a massive 37 million voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase. This electorate includes 17.4 million women voters. The polling was conducted across 45,399 polling stations set up throughout the concerned districts.
Key Contenders and High-Profile Battles
Several prominent ministers and political heavyweights are among those whose political careers were on the line today. Key figures from the NDA in the fray include Power Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav from Supaul, Industries Minister Nitish Mishra from Jhanjharpur, and former deputy chief minister Renu Devi, the Fisheries Resources Minister, from Bettiah.
Other notable NDA candidates include former deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad from Katihar and former speaker Uday Narain Choudhary from Sikandra. The fate of state party presidents was also decided, with Congress's Rajesh Ram (Kutumba), LJP–Ram Vilas's Raju Tiwary (Gobindganj), and HAM-S's Anil Kumar (Tikari) facing the electoral test.
The Political Stakes and Alliances
The primary contest in Bihar is a direct fight between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). The NDA, seeking re-election, is helmed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The opposition Mahagathbandhan primarily consists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.
Adding further intrigue to the contest are Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. The AIMIM's presence is particularly significant as it won five seats in the 2020 elections in the Seemachal region, which is part of this second phase.
Among other interesting candidates are Ritesh Pandey, the Bhojpuri actor-singer representing Jan Suraaj Party from Karaghar in Rohtas. Snehlata Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and wife of Union minister Upendra Kushwaha contested from Sasaram. Dipa Kumari of HAM(S), who is the daughter-in-law of Jitan Ram Manjhi, was a candidate from the Imamganj seat.
The ruling NDA campaigned on the plank of stability, highlighting the 20-year rule of Nitish Kumar in Bihar and the 11-year tenure of the PM Modi government at the Centre. In contrast, the opposition Mahagathbandhan focused its campaign on issues of anti-incumbency, misgovernance, and unfulfilled job promises.
All eyes are now on the vote counting, with the results set to be declared on 14 November. The outcome will chart the course for Bihar's governance and political direction for the next five years.
