Patna: The final phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections began on Tuesday morning with voters turning out in large numbers across the state’s 20 districts. Polling, which started at 7 a.m., is taking place for 122 assembly constituencies, marking the conclusion of a fiercely contested election season.
The second and final phase includes 101 general seats, 19 reserved for Scheduled Castes, and two for Scheduled Tribes, with over 37 million voters — including 19.5 million men and 17.4 million women — eligible to cast their votes. Early reports from polling stations indicated strong voter enthusiasm despite morning chill and logistical delays in some areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to set a new record in voter participation. In a post on X, he said: “Today is the second and final phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections. I urge all voters to participate enthusiastically and set a new voting record. I especially appeal to my young friends voting for the first time to inspire others as well.”
बिहार विधानसभा चुनावों में आज दूसरे और अंतिम चरण की वोटिंग है। सभी मतदाताओं से मेरा निवेदन है कि वे इसमें बढ़-चढ़कर भागीदार बनें और मतदान का नया रिकॉर्ड बनाएं। पहली बार वोट देने जा रहे राज्य के अपने नौजवान साथियों से मेरा विशेष आग्रह है कि वे खुद तो मतदान करें ही, दूसरों को भी…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2025
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also took to social media, calling voting both a right and a responsibility. “Voting in a democracy is not only our right but also our duty. All voters are urged to exercise their right to vote. Vote and inspire others — first vote, then refreshments,” he wrote.
लोकतंत्र में मतदान केवल हमारा अधिकार ही नहीं, दायित्व भी है।
आज बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव के दूसरे चरण का मतदान हो रहा है — सभी मतदाताओं से आग्रह है कि अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग अवश्य करें।मतदान करें और दूसरों को भी प्रेरित करें।
पहले मतदान, फिर जलपान!— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) November 11, 2025
Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor appealed to voters to “vote for change.” “I appeal to the people of Bihar to break the turnout record in this final phase. Vote for your children’s education, employment, and Bihar’s future,” Kishor said.
#WATCH पटना, बिहार: जन सुराज के संस्थापक प्रशांत किशोर ने कहा, “बिहार के लोगों से अपील करेंगे कि जो पिछले चरण में रिकॉर्ड मतदान हुआ है उसको आज ब्रेक करिए। बिहार में बदलाव के लिए वोट करिए। अपने बच्चों के शिक्षा और रोजगार के लिए वोट करिए। जैसे पहले चरण में लोगों ने वोट किया है उससे… pic.twitter.com/0hA84doPmt
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) November 11, 2025
Prominent leaders and candidates were among the early voters. Paschim Champaran MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal cast his vote at booth number 73 in Bettiah and urged citizens to “come out in large numbers.” Shooter-turned-politician Shreyasi Singh voted at booth number 120 in her native Nayagaon village, calling the elections a “grand festival of democracy.”
Independent candidate Jyoti Singh, contesting from Karakat, also voted early, urging voters for support. “I could not reach many places during my campaign — please give me another chance to serve you,” she said.
However, the start of voting was marred by EVM glitches in Kishanganj, where polling at booth number 325 was delayed for nearly half an hour. Similar technical snags were reported at booth numbers 29 and 31 in Khagda Middle School. Officials said efforts were underway to fix the machines promptly and resume voting.
Voting will continue until 6 p.m., except in Naxal-affected constituencies, where polling will conclude an hour earlier. The results will be announced on November 14.
