Bihar Elections 2025: Phase 2 Voting Ends; Turnout At 68.6%, Highest-Ever In State's History

Bihar's voter turnout for the second and final phase of the 2025 legislative assembly elections stood at 68.6%, according to provisional data shared by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday.

The turnout surpassed record-high of 64.66% registered in the first phase of voting on Nov. 6.

The electoral battle was primarily between the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition bloc of Mahagatbandhan, and is considered to be one of most high-stake political contests in the country.

NDA includes the BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

Mahagathbandhan includes RJD, Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Besides this, new entrant Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party was also in the fray for all the 243 seats.

The counting of votes has been scheduled by the Election Commission on Nov. 11.

The poll of exit polls suggests that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to retain power in Bihar, whereas the Opposition bloc of Mahagathbandhan is seen as a distant second.

The NDA, co-led by the BJP and JD(U), is poised to win more than 145 seats, according to an aggregate of eight exit polls released on Tuesday. The survey outcome was released shortly after the conclusion of the second and final phase of the elections.

With 145-plus seats, the NDA could form a full majority government in Bihar. The halfway-majority mark stands at 122 in the 243-member assembly.

The Mahagathbandhan, which is led by the RJD-Congress combine, is projected to be restricted to 88 seats, according to the poll of exit polls.

Meanwhile, the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) of poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor is projected to win only one constituency, despite leading a spirited campaign in the state.