Voting for the second phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections began at 7 a.m. across 122 constituencies and will continue till 5 p.m. This phase will decide the fate of 1,302 candidates, including several ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet.
The second phase is being seen as a major test for the smaller NDA allies Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha. In the first phase, held on November 6 across 121 constituencies, Bihar saw a record voter turnout of 64.66 percent, the highest in its history.
Leaders from both political camps exercised their voting rights on Tuesday, including JD(U) acting president Sanjay Jha, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, and Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram. State Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, BJP’s Jamui candidate Shreyashi Singh, and independent candidate Jyoti Singh, wife of Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh, also cast their votes. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain and Congress MLA Ajeet Sharma were among the other prominent voters.
Congress leader Rajesh Ram claimed that the mood among voters clearly indicates support for the INDIA bloc. “The body language of voters, candidates, and our alliance leaders shows that people are ready for change. A clear victory for the INDIA bloc is on the horizon,” he said.
However, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha expressed confidence in the NDA’s return to power. “There is no anti-incumbency against Nitish Kumar despite 20 years of governance. In fact, people are supporting us even more strongly. The NDA is heading toward a record-breaking majority,” he said. Jha accused RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of “doing politics out of desperation” after “realizing defeat.”
Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi said his party’s development work at the Centre has reached the people effectively. “Voter turnout will be even higher in this phase. Women and Dalit voters, in particular, are coming out in large numbers in support of the NDA,” he said.
Meanwhile, RJD leader and INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav said the “record voting” in the first phase was a clear signal that people wanted results, not “jumlas (empty promises).”
In a long post on X, Tejashwi wrote, “For years, the people of Bihar have only received slogans and assurances from the NDA. They are now tired and want real change.” He said the INDIA bloc had worked hard to create a development plan that includes every community and class. “Our dream is the same as the people’s… to bring true progress to Bihar,” he said.
Tejashwi further said that the past 20 years had brought little real development. “The government failed to give jobs to the youth, improve education, or provide quality healthcare. Farmers continue to suffer from floods, traders face losses, and inflation has crushed people’s daily lives,” he added.
