Parties ramp up campaign in Seemanchal, Magadh, Shahabad, and Champaran regions in a final bid to secure voter support.
Final phase of Bihar Assembly elections underway: NDA and Grand Alliance leaders rally across Seemanchal, Champaran, Magadh, and Shahabad to woo voters (Photo: Pinterest)
NEW DELHI: With only two days remaining before the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, all major political parties are pulling out all the stops to win over voters ahead of the campaign's conclusion. Political leaders and candidates are leaving no stone unturned in this decisive phase, which will shape the political trajectory of the state for the next five years. Top campaigners and senior party figures are traversing the Seemanchal, Magadh, Shahabad, and Champaran regions in a final bid to secure voter support.
The second and concluding phase of polling will take place on November 11 , covering 122 assembly constituencies across 20 districts. During this stage, the electoral fate of 1,302 candidates will be sealed in the electronic voting machines. Among them, 1,165 are male, 136 are female, and one belongs to the third gender.
The districts going to polls include West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, Kaimur, and Rohtas. The Seemanchal and Champaran regions are primarily dominated by Muslim and backward caste voters, while Magadh and Shahabad belts present a diverse political mix of upper and backward castes, making these constituencies highly competitive and strategically vital for all parties.
Key leaders contesting in this round include Vijay Kumar Khemka (Purnia), Avidur Rahman (Araria), Sweety Singh (Kishanganj), Tarkishore Prasad (Katihar), Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul), Prem Kumar (Gaya), and Shreyasi Singh (Jamui), among others.
Both major alliances the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance (INDIA bloc) have ramped up their campaign momentum. Their star campaigners are conducting back-to-back rallies across key constituencies in Seemanchal, Champaran, and Magadh, intensifying the electoral atmosphere in the final stretch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing massive public gatherings in Bhagalpur and Araria, launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), accusing it of fostering "lawlessness and stagnation" during its tenure. He reiterated that the RJD represented "Jungle Raj and corruption," and urged voters to reject the party for the sake of Bihar's progress and stability.
In East and West Champaran, BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda rallied for NDA candidates, portraying the alliance as a symbol of good governance. During his address in Madhubani, he alleged that the RJD had plunged Bihar into "chaos and darkness" during its rule. Nadda credited the NDA government for driving visible progress in infrastructure, including highways, internet access, railways, and airports, calling them hallmarks of Bihar's transformation. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also the JD(U) President, conducted several public meetings in Araria, Katihar, and Kishanganj, emphasizing his government's achievements and urging voters to reaffirm their trust in the NDA. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh campaigned in Jamui and Banka, accusing the Grand Alliance of misleading voters with hollow promises. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, speaking at a rally in Rohtas, asserted that Bihar's continued development and stability depend on the NDA's return to power.
On the opposition front, leaders from the Grand Alliance (INDIA bloc) intensified their outreach. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress campaigned in Valmikinagar and Chanpatia, accusing the NDA of betraying public trust under the guise of a "double engine government". She alleged that the BJP was running the Bihar government "by remote control," diminishing state autonomy. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of the RJD reaffirmed that all seven constituents of the Grand Alliance were united in their mission to bring change and restore hope in Bihar. Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the CPI(ML), also addressed large gatherings in Nawada and Arwal, appealing to voters to back the INDIA bloc's promise of inclusive growth, employment generation, and social justice.
Political analysts view this final phase as a crucial test for Bihar's shifting political equilibrium. Both the NDA and the Grand Alliance are fiercely defending their respective strongholds while making aggressive inroads into each other's territories.
