Record 69% turnout in Bihar phase 2, up from 65.08% in phase 1
Bihar witnessed its highest-ever voting turnout of 68.8% in the second phase of assembly elections. Seemanchal districts, particularly those with a high minority population, recorded exceptional polling, exceeding 75% on average. This surge in vot...
By ET Bureau | Updated:
BCCL
New Delhi: Bihar recorded its highest-ever voting turnout on Tuesday in the second phase of assembly election with 68.8% polling till 5pm. The first phase had recorded a voter turnout of 65.08% of polling on November 6.
The four districts of Seemanchal recorded an average of 75.9% polling. Kishanganj, which has the highest minority population in the state, recorded a polling of 78.15%, followed by adjoining Katihar (78.88%) and Purnea (76.29%) and Araria (70.11%). These were the districts that witnessed the maximum voter deletion during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and the high turnout is being attributed to minority voters coming out in large numbers to vote.
The high voting percentage has become a challenge for the NDA which won 12 out of 24 seats in these districts in the 2020 assembly polls.
The neighbouring district of Supaul recorded a 72.43% voter turnout. Rest of the districts recorded less than 60% voting. Nawada in the Magadh region recorded the lowest polling of 57.8%.
In 2020, the NDA gained a massive lead in two Champaran districts by winning 17 out of 21 seats. In 2025, East and West Champaran have recorded a high polling percentage of 69%.
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A high voting turnout has also been seen in south Bihar districts like Jamui (69.67%), Gaya (68.72%) and Kaimur (68.44%). The lowest turnout (57.8%) was recorded in Nawada, the only district that did not touch the 60% mark till 5pm.
The 10 assembly seats of Madhubani in Mithilanchal recorded a voter turnout of 61.79%. There were still queues outside polling booths in Seemanchal and Kosi region till the time of filing this story.
