Bihar showdown set for final phase

Campaign ends; polling to be held in 122 Assembly seats tomorrow

- MPOST BUREAU

Curtains came down on a high-voltage, no-holds barred campaign on Sunday evening for the second and final phase of the high-stakes Assembly elections in Bihar.

While the first phase of polls, which registered a historic record 65 per cent turnout, was held on November 6, voting for the second phase will be held on November 11, followed by the counting of votes on November 14.

Elections will be held in 122 seats in the second phase, while polling happened in 121 Assembly segments in the first round.

Among the significant seats going to the polls in this phase are Chakai, from where JD(U) minister Sumit Kumar Singh is seeking a reelection, BJP MLA Shreyasi Singh's Jamui, JD(U) minister Leshi Singh's Dhamdaha, and BJP minister Neeraj Kumar Singh's Chhatapur.

In the final lap of electioneering on the closing day Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi figured prominently as star campaigners for their respective parties.