#BiharPolls: 3.7 Crore Voters Cast Ballots in Decisive Phase Two Amid NDA–Mahagathbandhan Face-Off
3.7 crore voters pick 122 MLAs in Phase 2 showdown.
Bihar's electoral fever peaks today as 3.7 crore voters across 20 districts cast ballots in the decisive second phase for 122 assembly seats, sealing the fate of 1,302 candidates—including 136 women and one third-gender contestant. Polling began at 7 AM and ends at 5 PM under tight security, with results on November 14 shaping Nitish Kumar's NDA legacy against Tejashwi Yadav's Mahagathbandhan surge. This round covers key belts like Seemanchal, Champaran, and Magadh, where 2020 saw BJP win 42, RJD 33, JD(U) 20, Congress 11, and Left 5—now all up for grabs amid job crises and migration woes.
The stakes skyrocket for the ruling alliance, with 12 cabinet ministers defending their turf in a brutal loyalty test. JD(U) faces include Vijendra Yadav (Supaul), Lesi Singh (Dhamdaha—locked in a betrayal saga with Santosh Kushwaha), Jayant Kushwaha (Amarpur), Sumit Singh (Chakai), Mohammad Jama Khan (Chainpur), and Sheela Mandal (Phoolparas). BJP's big guns are Prem Kumar (Gaya), Renu Devi (Bettiah), Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikati), Nitish Mishra (Jhanjharpur—guarding a 41,700-vote fortress), Neeraj Bablu (Chhatapur), and Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsiddhi), all battling anti-incumbency after Yogi and Rahul's fiery closing rallies.
Hotspot battles promise fireworks. In Madhuban (East Champaran), BJP dynast Rana Randhir—son of five-term ruler Sitaram Singh—clashes with RJD's Sandhya Rani and Jan Suraaj's Vijay Kumar Kushwaha in Vaishya stronghold chaos. Kahalgaon (Bhagalpur) explodes into a four-way mess: RJD vs Congress in "friendly fire," JD(U) lurking, and rebel BJP MLA Pawan Kumar Yadav running independent. Bettiah sees Renu Devi's five-win streak challenged by Congress's Wasi Ahmed and OBC rebel Rohit Sikaria near the Nepal edge.
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Katihar turns personal—Tarkishore Prasad, BJP holder since 2005, faces his ex-aide's son Saurabh Agarwal (VIP) while Jan Suraaj's Ghazi Sharique eyes Muslim vote splits. In Kargahar (Rohtas), Bhojpuri icon Ritesh Pandey replaces Prashant Kishor to battle Congress's Santosh Kumar Mishra and JD(U)'s Bashisth Singh in a seat that flips between the duo. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj wildcard—plus rebels like ex-IPS Shivdeep Lande in Araria—threatens to fracture alliances and gift upsets.
With drones, webcasting, and smartphone bans ensuring fair play, this phase isn't just numbers—it's a referendum on Nitish's 20-year reign. From East Champaran (11 seats) and Madhubani-Gaya (10 each) to Purnia-Katihar (7), every vote could crown or crush Bihar's next power axis.
Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav Accuses Election Commission of Withholding Voter Data, Alleges Bias in Bihar Polls
