In a remarkable display of democratic participation, the second and final phase of the Bihar assembly elections has created history by recording the highest-ever voter turnout at 68.65%. This significant achievement has surpassed the first phase's turnout of 65.09%, setting new benchmarks for electoral participation in the state.
Record-Breaking Voter Participation
The provisional data released by the Election Commission shows that 68.65% of voters exercised their franchise across 122 constituencies in the second phase conducted on Tuesday. This marks a substantial increase from the 65.09% turnout recorded in the first phase on November 6, which covered 121 constituencies.
The enhanced voter participation follows the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted by the Election Commission, which resulted in the total number of electors in Bihar being revised to 7.42 crore. The electoral roll saw significant changes with 3.66 lakh voters removed from the draft roll while 21.53 lakh new voters were added after proper evaluation of documents.
District-Wise Voting Patterns
The voting patterns across districts revealed interesting variations in voter enthusiasm. Kishanganj, the lone Muslim-majority district in Bihar, emerged as the frontrunner with an impressive 77.91% polling percentage. In contrast, Nawada recorded the lowest turnout at 57.80%, being the only district that failed to cross the 60% mark.
Other districts showed strong participation with Katihar closely following Kishanganj at 78.39%, Purnia at 75.87%, and Supaul at 72.46%. The district-wise breakdown presents a comprehensive picture of voter engagement across different regions of Bihar.
Complete District Voting Percentage
Araria: 69.58%
Arwal: 63.82%
Aurangabad: 65.36%
Banka: 70.18%
Bhagalpur: 67.41%
Gaya: 68.63%
Jehanabad: 65.33%
Jamui: 69.63%
Kaimur: 68.32%
Katihar: 78.39%
Kishanganj: 77.91%
Madhubani: 63.21%
Nawada: 57.80%
Paschim Champaran: 70.75%
Purnia: 75.87%
Purvi Champaran: 71.10%
Rohtas: 61.79%
Sheohar: 68.67%
Sitamarhi: 66.77%
Supaul: 72.46%
Political Strategies and Key Contests
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is banking heavily on the 'good governance' narrative during Nitish Kumar's tenure to counter the anti-incumbency factor. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc is pinning its hopes on the incumbency factor working in their favor.
The second phase witnessed intense political battles with eight ministers from Nitish Kumar's cabinet contesting across various constituencies. This high-stakes phase has become crucial for both alliances as they seek to secure their positions in the 243-member assembly where the majority mark stands at 122.
Exit Poll Predictions
Several exit polls released on Tuesday have predicted a significant victory for the BJP-led NDA, with the Mahagathbandhan projected to finish a distant second. The predictions from various polling agencies show a consistent trend favoring the ruling alliance.
Dainik Bhaskar Exit Poll:
NDA: 145-160 seats
Mahagathbandhan: 73-91 seats
Jan Suraaj: 0-3 seats
Matrize Exit Poll:
NDA: 147-167 seats
Mahagathbandhan: 70-90 seats
Jan Suraaj: 0-2 seats
The People's Insight:
NDA: 133-148 seats
Mahagathbandhan: 87-102 seats
Jan Suraaj: 0-2 seats
The record voter turnout in the second phase reflects the heightened political awareness among Bihar's electorate and sets the stage for what could be a decisive mandate in one of India's most politically significant states.
