Bihar Elections 2025 Highlights: Campaign ends for high-stakes assembly polls

BJP leader Smriti Irani on Sunday said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) received "record votes" in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections and urged people to come out in even greater numbers in the upcoming second phase of polling, scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

The first phase of the Bihar elections, which saw a record voter turnout of 65.08 per cent, marked the highest polling percentage in the state's history. (ANI)

As the campaign for the second phase of the Bihar polls concluded, Union Minister Chirag Paswan expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would form the government with a significant margin in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Chirag Paswan said, "The Campaign has culminated on a good note. There is enthusiasm among the NDA. The alliance has supported each other, and we are going to form the government with a big victory." (ANI)

With just two days left for the second phase of polling in the Bihar Assembly elections, Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday said that Bihar has already taken its "first step towards change" on November 6 and will complete the process with the "second step" on November 11, stating that change in the state is inevitable. (ANI)

Rajya Sabha MPs Kapil Sibal and A D Singh on Sunday alleged "four special trains" were run from Haryana to Bihar on November 3 carrying 6,000 people, and asked the railway minister to clarify the purpose for operating those during the assembly polls and who paid for them.

Responding to their claims, the Railway Ministry said, "This festival season, the railways is running 12,000 special trains; 10,700 special trains are scheduled and about 2000 trains are unscheduled. We are operating war rooms at three levels, divisional, zonal, and Railway board level." (PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah can go anywhere, but they will eventually be caught “for indulging in vote chori”.

Gandhi, addressing poll rallies in Bihar’s Kishanganj and Purnea on the final day of campaign, also alleged that the BJP and RSS were trying to divide the nation, while the INDIA bloc was making efforts to unite the country.

INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday promised to give a “return gift” to his RJD supporters who showered him with birthday wishes on the final day of campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections.

The leader, who turned 36, was also presented with a birthday cake when he reached Karakat assembly seat of Rohtas district, to start his campaign for the day.

"I thank you all for birthday wishes. I promise you that as soon as we form government, after counting of votes on November 14, you all will get a return gift", said the former deputy chief minister. (PTI)

CM Nitish Kumar addresses an election rally in Nabinagar, Aurangabad.

He says, “The previous government (RJD) didn’t do anything for Bihar. People couldn't even go out at night… It’s been 20 years since we formed a government, and since then, we have done a lot of work. We made several improvements in the Education sector and other sectors.”

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Tejashwi ji is going to win Bihar and form the government. You can see the public support he has been getting... People will not let any conspiracy succeed."

During an election rally in Kishanganj, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "I want that instead of Made in China, Made in Bihar should be written on mobile phones... In the last 20 years, how many food processing units has Nitish Kumar set up?... Amit Shah says there is no land to set up factories in Bihar. He lies from the stage. There is no shortage of land in Bihar. The Bihar government is ready to give as much land as is needed to Adani. Land has been given to Adani at a cost of ₹1 per acre..."

All eyes are on the Bhagalpur Assembly constituency as the district gears up for polling in the second phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections on November 11.

Bhagalpur, one of the most closely watched constituencies in the state, will witness a direct contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Ajeet Sharma representing the Congress and Rohit Pandey contesting on a BJP ticket. (ANI)

anshakti Janta Dal Chief Tej Pratap Yadav says, "... My security has been increased because there is a threat to my life. People will get me killed. There are many enemies... It's Tejashwi's birthday and I give him my best wishes. Hope he has a bright future. He has my blessings."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary on Sunday urged voters to back the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the ongoing Assembly elections, emphasising that only the NDA can ensure the continuation of development work in the state.

Addressing reporters in Patna, Chaudhary launched a strong attack on the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), accusing its leaders of corruption and decades of misgovernance, according to ANI.

"Make NDA win so that the development works in Bihar continue. The people who have stolen people's money and resources all their lives, those who have looted the nation for 55 years, those who committed the fodder scam are accusing us of corruption," Chaudhary said.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday stated that the NDA has “conceded” defeat in the Bihar assembly elections, and several of its leaders have started the process of vacating their official residences, according to PTI. He also alleged that, “sensing defeat”, officials under the direction of ruling NDA leaders “were shifting important files.”

“The NDA leaders have conceded defeat, after the voter turnout in the first phase and people’s enthusiasm in favour of the INDIA bloc for the final phase of voting on November 11,” Khera asserted.

“We have also come to know that many of its ministers, including deputy CMs, have begun the process to vacate their official residences… It will not be surprising if we come to know about fire breaking out at places where these files are being stored,” added Khera, who is also chairman of the Media & Publicity wing of the party.

Union Minister Anupriya Patel on Sunday expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) win in the ongoing Bihar Assembly elections, saying the people of the state are satisfied with the good governance and rapid development witnessed over the past two decades.

She praised the safe environment for women under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, noting that this has encouraged voters to come out in large numbers to support the NDA government once again.

"The voters of Bihar are very excited. They are happy with the good governance established in the last 20 years, the corruption-free government, and the rapid pace of development. The way women have received a safe environment under the government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has helped them progress. This is why they have come out of their homes in large numbers to help form the NDA government again," Anupriya Patel informed ANI.

Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday expressed optimism about the alliance’s success in the Bihar Assembly elections, stating that there was a positive atmosphere across the state.

Yadav said he was confident that the people of Bihar would vote for change both in the first phase and again on November 11. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of sidestepping the issue of reservations in the state.

"Today is the last day of the election campaign. The environment is very good. The people of Bihar have voted for change, and they will do the same on 11th November. Whether it is the Prime Minister or any other minister, no one is talking about the reservation we gave during our government for 17 months. The Prime Minister has eaten up the 65% reservation of the people. They should talk about what they gave to Bihar and Gujarat," Tejashwi Yadav said, according to ANI.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav said, "The high voter turnout is an indication that NDA is leading in the elections. NDA will be forming the government in Bihar again with an absolute majority..."

On the visit of Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to Madhya Pradesh, he says, "If he (Rahul Gandhi) is spending his holidays leaving the Congress in the lurch, then it is a matter of concern for the Congress and its leaders. If he has come to our state, then he is our guest and I welcome him, but with great regret I have to say that if a leader is leaving his party in this condition in the election field, then it means that he has already accepted his defeat."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya expressed strong confidence in the NDA’s prospects in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, stating that the first phase of voting was heavily one-sided in favor of the ruling alliance, according to ANI.

Maurya claimed that the NDA could secure up to 85% of the votes, while the Mahagathbandhan might be "fortunate" to get even 15%. He also predicted that the NDA would replicate its 2010 success in the 2025 polls and continue to gain momentum in the second phase of voting.

"The voting that took place in the first phase is one-sided in favour of NDA... Our estimate is that this election will be between 85% and 15%. 85% in favour of NDA, and if the Mahagathbandhan gets even 15%, it will be their fortune... We have no doubt that we will repeat the 2010 results in 2025... NDA will also benefit in the voting of the second phase," he said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hit out at the ruling NDA government in Bihar, claiming it has failed to improve women's safety and address job-related migration from the state, ANI reported.

Speaking at a rally, Priyanka Gandhi, MP, accused NDA leaders of making "false promises." She added that Nitish Kumar, who has served as Chief Minister for the past 20 years, has not improved the lives of women, who continue to face hardships.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday criticised the BJP-led central government, accusing it of prioritising Gujarat over Bihar when setting up factories, according to ANI.

“They (BJP) take votes from Bihar, so they should also set up factories in Bihar. For the last 15 years, PM Modi has set up factories in Gujarat, not in Bihar,” Kishor said during a campaign rally.

Targeting both the opposition Mahagathbandhan and the ruling NDA, he added, “Is this acceptable to you? 'Nitish Chacha rahenge ki jayenge?' Do you want 'Lalu ka Lalten'? Jungle Raj of Lalten? Now, if you don't vote for Lalu, Nitish, or Modi, then who is left?”