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By Binay Sinha/Thenewsdose.com 

Patna: As Bihar heads into the second and final phase of Assembly elections on November 11, the state braces for a fierce contest that will conclude a nearly month-long, high-voltage campaign marked by sharp rhetoric, personal jibes, and ideological polarisation. At stake are 122 seats across 20 districts, with over 3.7 crore voters deciding the fate of 1,302 candidates. The results will be declared on November 14.

Campaign Closes with Heavyweights on the Ground

The final day of canvassing on Sunday, saw Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi give finishing touches to the campaign blitz. Rahul addressed back-to-back rallies in Kishanganj and Purnea—part of the Seemanchal belt with a sizeable Muslim electorate—accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of “vote theft”.
“PM Modi, Amit Shah and the EC have no replies to our ‘vote chori’ allegations. The truth is now out in front of the people,” Rahul said, echoing the Congress’s ongoing line of attack since the Haryana polls.

Shah, campaigning in Sasaram and Arwal, countered with sharp retorts, accusing the INDIA bloc of “building a corridor for infiltrators” while asserting that PM Modi’s vision was to “create an industrial corridor in Bihar.”

The final phase is logistically and strategically more challenging than the first. Borders with Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal have been sealed.  Over 150 additional companies of Central forces have been deployed, and vigilance will be tighter than before.  
Polling will be held across 45,399 booths, with heightened surveillance on the border and communally sensitive districts.

The Regional Battlelines

The second phase covers Bihar’s most politically diverse zones:

• Seemanchal, where AIMIM has fielded multiple candidates in Muslim-majority constituencies.

• Kosi is dominated by EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) voters.

• Mithilanchal, where PM Modi and Amit Shah donned the traditional paag headgear during rallies to signal cultural affinity.

• Champaran, where all parties invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy in their appeals.

Unlike the first phase, where the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) defended more seats, the onus now rests on the NDA, which had won 70 of these 122 seats in 2020, compared to 50 by the MGB.

Candidate Profile and Stakes

Within the NDA, 53 seats are being contested by the BJP, 44 by JD(U), 15 by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, four by the RLD, and six by the HAM.
Several ministers close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—including Bijendra Yadav, Nitish Mishra, Neeraj Kumar Bablu, Renu Devi, and Lesie Singh—face crucial tests.

In the Mahagathbandhan, the RJD is contesting 72 seats, the Congress 37, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) 10, and others 4. Prominent figures in the fray include State Congress president Rajesh Ram, CLP leader Shakeel Ahmad, former Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary, and CPI-ML’s Mehmood Alam.

BJP Banks on PM Modi’s Blitz, Mahagathbandhan on Tejashwi’s Push

The NDA campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed two mega rallies a day since November 6. He was joined by Yogi Adityanath, Mohan Yadav, JP Nadda, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chirag Paswan, and Nitish Kumar.
The messaging remained consistent—“No return to jungle raj,” industrial growth, one crore jobs, and strong border vigilance against infiltration. The BJP has now explicitly stated that Nitish Kumar will retain the CM post if the NDA returns to power.

On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan—led by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge—focused on unemployment, healthcare, and the claim that Nitish is under Delhi’s control. Tejashwi Yadav has been the alliance’s most visible face, holding multiple rallies daily across Kosi and Mithilanchal.

High Voter Turnout and Political Undercurrents

The first phase saw a record turnout of over 65%, which both alliances claimed as a positive sign. PM Modi has urged voters to “break the first phase’s record”. However, within the Mahagathbandhan, there is some unease over Tej Pratap Yadav’s growing proximity to BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, with both frequently spotted together at airstrips while waiting for campaign helicopters. Adding to speculation, Tej Pratap’s recent Y-plus security cover, granted by the Centre, has raised eyebrows within RJD ranks.

As the final phase approaches, Bihar stands poised for a decisive verdict. The coming days will test not just Nitish Kumar’s enduring relevance but also Tejashwi Yadav’s credibility as a challenger—and whether the BJP’s muscular campaign can consolidate its reach in a state where political memory runs deep and loyalties often shift with caste, community, and conviction.