Bihar phase 2 polls record highest-ever turnout; 67.14% till 5:00pm
What's the story
Phase 2 of the Bihar Assembly polls saw the highest ever voter turnout. By 5:00pm 67.14% of the state's 3.7 crore voters had cast their votes across 122 constituencies. This is a substantial turnout by mid-afternoon, although the first phase on November 6 recorded a higher turnout of 65.09% by the end of the day.
District turnout
Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar top list of voter turnout
Kishanganj, Bihar's only Muslim-majority district, recorded the highest voter turnout at 66.1% till 3:00pm. It was followed by Purnea (64.22%) and Katihar (63.8%). Other districts with notable turnouts include Jamui (63.33%) and Gaya (62.74%), while Nawada had the lowest turnout at 53.17%. The second phase is crucial for both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc, with eight ministers contesting, highlighting the high stakes involved.
Security measures
Voting under way amid tight security
The second phase of voting started at 7:00am and will continue till 5:00pm amid tight security. The fate of 1,302 candidates will be decided in this phase. Voting is taking place in districts bordering Nepal such as West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj. The Seemanchal region, which includes districts like Kishanganj and Araria, has a significant Muslim population, making it a focal point in this election phase.