Bihar plunged into the decisive second phase of assembly elections on Tuesday morning, with polling underway across 122 constituencies in a high-stakes battle that could reshape Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's political future. Spanning 15 districts—including the Nepal-bordering Seemanchal region with its significant Muslim electorate—this round tests the endurance of the NDA coalition as nine cabinet ministers, including heavyweights like Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Renu Devi, fight to retain their seats against a resurgent Mahagathbandhan.

Security has been fortified with over 400,000 personnel deployed, including paramilitary forces and drone surveillance, especially in sensitive border districts like West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj. The Election Commission has sealed international borders and set up 1,200 additional checkpoints to prevent infiltration or disruptions. This phase follows a record 65% turnout in the first round last week, with officials predicting even higher participation as rural voters dominate the electorate.

All eyes are locked on Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur, where a rare four-cornered contest pits RJD, Congress, JDU, and a rebel BJP MLA Pawan Kumar Yadav—now running as an Independent—against each other. The seat exemplifies alliance fractures: Mahagathbandhan partners RJD and Congress are in a "friendly fight," while Yadav's rebellion exposes cracks within the BJP. Similar tensions simmer in Kutumba, where state Congress chief Rajesh Kumar seeks re-election, and in Imamganj, with former speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary (RJD) facing off against JDU's sitting MLA.

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Minor NDA allies face make-or-break moments—Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha each field six candidates, with their performance critical to Nitish’s majority calculus. Meanwhile, opposition leader Mukesh Sahani, the VIP chief and deputy CM aspirant, dismissed rift rumors within the Grand Alliance, asserting unity despite seat-sharing disputes. Key opposition faces like Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Congress) and CPI(ML)’s Mehboob Alam are also in the fray, aiming to capitalize on anti-incumbency.

As polling stations opened at 7 a.m., long queues formed despite early winter chill, with women voters outnumbering men in several booths. The Election Commission has enabled webcasting from 60% of polling stations for transparency. Votes will be counted on November 14, with exit polls banned until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Political analysts warn that a strong Seemanchal showing for the Mahagathbandhan could tilt the balance, potentially ending Nitish Kumar’s 20-year dominance if the NDA fails to secure at least 70 seats in this phase.

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