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Campaigning for the second and final phase of the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections ended on Sunday evening, drawing the curtains on a nearly month-long political showdown marked by sharp exchanges, high-octane rallies, and an intense battle for voter trust. Voting for 122 seats will take place on November 11, while counting of votes will be held on November 14. The first phase of polling, conducted on November 6, saw a record turnout of 65 percent across 121 constituencies. Top Contests in Final Phase of Bihar Polls The second phase will decide the fate of several prominent leaders, including JD(U) ministers Sumit Kumar Singh from Chakai and Leshi Singh from Dhamdaha, BJP MLA and shooter-turned-politician Shreyasi Singh from Jamui, and BJP minister Neeraj Kumar Singh from Chhatapur. As the campaign drew to a close, senior leaders across party lines, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, crisscrossed Bihar in a final bid to sway voters. Rahul Gandhi Wraps Up Opposition Push Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed his last rallies in Kishanganj and Purnea districts, focusing on the Seemanchal region that holds a sizeable Muslim population. The area is crucial for the opposition INDIA bloc, which is banking on a consolidation of minority votes. Gandhi, who held 15 rallies during the campaign, had earlier led the Voter Adhikar Yatra, a two-week outreach programme that received notable local participation. While his “vote chori” (vote theft) allegations against the BJP were a recurring theme, the issue failed to dominate the election narrative. For the first time, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned in Bihar, marking her debut in the state’s electoral politics. She addressed 10 rallies and led a roadshow before one of her meetings was cancelled due to bad weather that grounded her helicopter. BJP’s Power-Packed Campaign Led by Modi and Shah The BJP ran one of its most aggressive campaigns in Bihar, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed 14 rallies and held a roadshow. His speeches focused on development, governance, and welfare schemes, with repeated jibes at the opposition bloc. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, widely seen as the BJP’s chief strategist, stayed in the state for several days, personally managing the campaign in key districts. On the final day, he addressed rallies in Sasaram and Arwal - both constituencies where the BJP is considered relatively weak. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also campaigned in Aurangabad and Kaimur, regions bordering his home state Uttar Pradesh. BJP president JP Nadda, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and chief ministers Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Mohan Yadav joined the campaign trail, adding to the party’s star power. Actor-politicians Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari, both popular Bhojpuri figures, also campaigned across the state. The NDA campaign even saw participation from allies outside Bihar, such as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh of the TDP, reflecting the national scale of the BJP’s outreach. Nitish Kumar Keeps It Low-Key, But Focused Away from the limelight of national leaders, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led a quieter but determined campaign. The JD(U) supremo, aiming for a fifth consecutive term, continued holding small rallies and impromptu roadshows despite speculation over his health and political equations. After sharing the stage with Prime Minister Modi at a joint rally in Samastipur early in the campaign, Kumar skipped subsequent events featuring the PM - sparking opposition claims of tension within the NDA alliance. However, JD(U) leaders dismissed such talk, saying the chief minister was focusing on local-level outreach. Tejashwi Yadav Fires Up the Opposition Bloc On the other side, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav - declared the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate - campaigned vigorously across the state. His rallies drew large crowds, with promises of job creation and governance reform forming the crux of his appeal. Yadav’s campaign, marked by youthful energy and sharp criticism of the Nitish-led government, has boosted the opposition’s confidence going into the final round. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party Adds a New Dimension Adding a new twist to the Bihar elections was political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj movement ran a grassroots, door-to-door campaign. Kishor, who once managed campaigns for top leaders including Modi and Nitish, presented himself as a reformist alternative, focusing on governance and citizen participation rather than mass rallies. For the Latest news, India News, Bihar Election 2025 updates and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting.
