Fate of 1,302 candidates to be sealed in final phase

The high-stakes battle for Bihar will end on Tuesday as 122 assembly constituencies across 20 districts go to polls in the second and final phase of the state elections, deciding the political fate of 1,302 candidates, including a dozen sitting ministers.

- Ruchir Kumar

The concluding round of polling will determine not just the next government but also future of several key political heavyweights. Over 37 million voters, including 17.4 million women, are eligible to vote at 45,399 polling stations.

The first phase of polling held on November 6, covering 121 constituencies across 18 districts, recorded a voter turnout of 65.08%, the highest-ever in Bihar. To be sure, this number came after the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls trimmed the electorate in Bihar from 78.9 million people to 74.2 million.

"Of the total 45,399 polling stations, 40,073 are in rural areas. We have arranged for webcasting at all the 45,399 booths," said an officer from the Bihar chief electoral office. "The average number of electors per polling station is 815."

Of the 122 seats going to polls on Tuesday, the Mahagathbandhan had won 49 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 66 seats in the 2020 assembly elections. The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM won five seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and an Independent won one each.