Security Intensified Across Bihar to Prevent Violence During Vote Counting

Security measures have been significantly intensified across Bihar in anticipation of the vote counting for the 243 Assembly constituencies scheduled for November 23, 2025, with Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar issuing stringent directives to all district authorities to uphold law and order. Over 100 identified vulnerable polling stations and strongrooms, particularly in tense regions like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur, have seen deployments of additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) alongside state police, totaling more than 50,000 personnel statewide.

This ramp-up follows recent reports of isolated post-poll skirmishes between supporters of rival parties and a surge in provocative social media posts, which authorities are monitoring through dedicated cyber cells to preempt any escalation. The Bihar Police, in coordination with the Election Commission of India (ECI), has established round-the-clock control rooms and quick-response teams, emphasizing zero tolerance for violence amid the high-stakes contest between the NDA coalition led by Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and the opposition INDIA bloc spearheaded by the RJD.

The enhanced security protocol includes the installation of CCTV surveillance at all 64,000 polling stations—now repurposed as counting centers—and the enforcement of a three-layer perimeter around strongrooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). DGP Kumar's circular mandates hourly updates from field officers, drone patrols in urban hotspots, and mock drills simulating potential disruptions, drawing lessons from past elections marred by booth capturing and booth-level clashes.

Political tensions, exacerbated by Nitish Kumar's alliance flips and Tejashwi Yadav's aggressive youth-focused campaign, have heightened risks, with the ECI deploying 200 companies of CAPF—up from 150 in 2020—to cover sensitive zones where caste and communal fault lines run deep. Social media platforms have been put on notice to flag hate speech, with over 500 accounts already suspended for inflammatory content targeting communities or leaders.

This proactive stance reflects Bihar's complex electoral landscape, where the 2025 polls—concluding a phased voting process that saw 73% turnout—pit Kumar's governance record against opposition critiques of unemployment and migration. Historical precedents, such as the 2019 violence in Nalanda that claimed lives, underscore the necessity of robust arrangements, with the state administration also banning victory processions and liquor sales in the lead-up to results day. Community leaders and civil society groups have welcomed the measures, urging voter restraint, while paramilitary commanders collaborate with local SPs to map escape routes and helipad readiness for rapid reinforcements.

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As Bihar braces for what could be a razor-thin verdict—exit polls projecting NDA at 115-125 seats—the fortified security net aims not only to deter unrest but also to instill public confidence in the democratic process. With results potentially triggering coalition realignments in a fragmented assembly, the focus remains on seamless transmission of Form 17C data and real-time ECI oversight. Authorities anticipate a largely peaceful counting day, but vigilance persists, ensuring that Bihar's vibrant yet volatile polity transitions smoothly into its next chapter of governance.

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