As the clock struck 11 am on Tuesday, a steady stream of voters across 122 assembly constituencies in Bihar had already recorded an impressive 31.38 per cent turnout, with more than 3.7 crore electors stepping out under tight security to seal the political destiny of 1,302 candidates, including eight heavyweight ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet in this decisive second and final phase of the fiercely contested assembly elections.

Though Nitish Kumar himself is not in the electoral fray as a member of the legislative council, the outcome is widely regarded as a direct referendum on his record-breaking tenure — the longest by any chief minister in Bihar’s history. The BJP-led NDA is aggressively pushing the narrative of stability and development under his leadership to neutralise anti-incumbency, while the opposition INDIA bloc is leaving no stone unturned to capitalise on public fatigue after nearly two decades of JD(U)-BJP rule.

For the Congress, which remains the second-largest constituent in the opposition alliance despite its diminished strength, this phase carries extra weight — a full 12 of its 19 sitting MLAs from the 2020 elections are seeking re-election today, including Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar Ram from Kutumba (SC) seat and senior leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan from Kadwa. A poor show here could severely dent the party’s bargaining power within the INDIA bloc and further erode its already fragile organisational base in the state.

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The Seemanchal region, comprising districts like Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar that share a porous border with Nepal, emerged as the early hotspot with Kishanganj leading the state at 34.74 per cent turnout, followed by Gaya at 34.07 per cent and Jamui at 33.69 per cent till 11 am. With a significant Muslim population and history of close contests, every percentage point in voter turnout here is being closely watched as both alliances fight bitterly over minority consolidation and allegations of infiltration.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made passionate last-minute appeals for maximum participation, with Modi specifically urging first-time young voters to not only cast their ballot but also motivate others, while Kumar described voting as both a constitutional right and a moral duty. As polling continues till 5 pm across these crucial constituencies, Bihar stands on the cusp of deciding whether it rewards continuity or embraces change in one of the most high-stakes electoral battles in recent years.

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