Patna: The high-voltage campaign for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections will conclude at 5 pm on Sunday. All major political parties have intensified their efforts in the final hours, making last-minute appeals to voters ahead of polling on Tuesday, November 11.
In this phase, voting will take place for 122 assembly constituencies spread across 20 districts, including West and East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Rohtas, and Kaimur. A total of 1,302 candidates are in the fray.
According to the Election Commission, 3.70 crore voters—comprising 1,95,44,041 men, 1,74,68,572 women, and 943 third-gender voters—will cast their votes at 45,399 polling booths. Of these, 5,326 booths are located in urban areas, while 40,073 are in rural regions.
To ensure smooth conduct of polling, 595 booths will be managed entirely by women officials, 91 by specially-abled officials, and 316 have been designated as model polling stations. Webcasting facilities will be available at all polling booths for real-time monitoring by election authorities.
Caste Dynamics Define Several Contests
In 32 of the 122 constituencies, candidates belonging to the same caste are pitted against each other, reflecting the deeply rooted social equations in Bihar politics.
Yadav candidates are facing off in Narpatganj, Belhar, Nawada, and Belaganj, with both the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance fielding contenders from the same community. Similarly, Muslim candidates are locked in direct contests in Araria, Jokihat, Bahadurganj, and Amour.
There are also three seats each where Dhanuk, Paswan, Rajput, and Mushar candidates are contesting against members of their own community. Brahmin, Vaishya, and Ravidas candidates are facing intra-caste battles on two seats each, while one seat each features contests between candidates from the Patar, Kharwar, Santhal, Kushwaha, and Bhumihar communities.
Tight Security Along Nepal Border
Ahead of the second phase of polling, security has been heightened along the India-Nepal border, which has been sealed until the night of November 11. Movement across the border will remain restricted during this period to prevent any illegal activities or cross-border influence on the election.
A coordination meeting was held on Saturday at F Company, Dighalbank, of the 12th Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), deployed along the Indo-Nepal border. Company Commander Priya Ranjan Chakma urged residents of the border villages to cooperate with security personnel and help maintain peace and order during the polling process.
The second phase will be crucial in determining the momentum for both the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance as the multi-phase Bihar Assembly elections continue.
