#BiharBattle2025: Voter Turn-Out Surprises Political Pundits, Records Nearly 70% In Second Final Phase ; Exit Polls Predict NDA Return

Picture : @CEOBihar/X

In  a turn- around of sorts Bihar witnessed a record-breaking turnout of nearly 69 percent in the second and final phase of assembly polls, wrapping up a nearly month-long exercise that saw the ruling National Democratic Alliance defend its “sushasan” pitch against the opposition’s onslaught, promising “change”.

According to media reprts, The results, which will be declared on November 14, will decide whether Nitish Kumar, the Janata Dal-United president and the longest serving Chief Minister, secures yet another tenure or his former deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who has likened the 20-year-old regime to a “rickety old car” (khataara), takes the wheel.

Briefing reporters, Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said the state recorded 68.79 per cent voter turnout, provisionally, in the second and final phase of the assembly polls.

In both phases, the state registered a voter turnout of 66.90 percent, provisionally, which is 9.6 percentage points more than the last assembly polls, the CEO added.

However, an ECI statement issued from New Delhi put the voter turnout at 68.76 percent. The female turnout (74.03 percent) was significantly higher, compared with males (64.1 percent).

The statement also disclosed that women had outnumbered men in the first phase as well, with female turnout 71.6 percent as against only 62.8 percent male electors who cast their votes.

Meanwhile , Almost all exit polls have predicted a clear victory for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government in the Bihar assembly elections, whose results are to be declared on Friday, November 14.

A simple majority of 122 seats is required for a majority in the Bihar assembly which has 243 seats.