Patna: The second and final phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections began on Tuesday amid a sharp dip in temperatures, as voters braved the morning chill and fog to cast their ballots across 20 districts. Wrapped in sweaters and shawls, men and women queued up outside polling stations well before 7 a.m., reflecting strong voter enthusiasm despite the biting cold.
In Kishanganj’s Kochadhaman Assembly constituency, long queues formed outside booths 253 and 254 as early as dawn. Many voters arrived clutching their voter slips, determined to exercise their franchise despite fog-laden air and near-freezing winds. “The cold doesn’t matter — voting does,” said a woman voter, adjusting her shawl as she waited in line.
The phase will decide the fate of 1,302 candidates, including 12 state ministers, with 37 million voters eligible to vote across 45,399 polling booths. Of these, 4,109 have been declared sensitive, where voting will conclude at 5 p.m., while in other constituencies polling will continue until 6 p.m.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several districts of Bihar — including Patna, Gaya, Rohtas, and Kishanganj — recorded night temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, significantly below the seasonal average. Cold northwesterly winds and changing air patterns have brought an early onset of winter, turning polling day into one of the chilliest mornings of the season.
The IMD also forecast dense fog and reduced visibility during early hours, warning of minor disruptions to travel and logistical operations. While sunlight is expected later in the day, the department said its warmth will remain weak due to haze and moisture.
Despite the weather, officials reported brisk polling in several constituencies by mid-morning. “The turnout in the early hours has been impressive, even with the cold,” said a senior election officer in Kishanganj.
The results of the Bihar Assembly elections will be declared on November 14.
