Bihar Election 2025: An extraordinary display of participation was seen in Bihar as the two-phase Assembly elections concluded on Tuesday (November 11). According to the Election Commission, a record voter turnout of nearly 67% was registered with both phases included; it is the highest since 1951. The turnout marks a 9.6% increase from the previous Assembly polls. After the record turnout, the results are set to be declared on November 14.
With 2,616 candidates in the fray, including some of Bihar’s most prominent political figures, the election has set the stage for a dramatic verdict. Before that, let’s take a look at some key electoral battles in state:
Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) vs Satish Kumar (BJP) in Raghopur
Among the most closely watched contests is in Raghopur, where Tejashwi Yadav is seeking a third consecutive win against BJP’s Satish Kumar. The seat, a traditional RJD stronghold, carries symbolic weight as this is where Yadav’s mother and former CM Rabri Devi lost to Satish Kumar in 2010. While Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj had initially hinted at challenging Yadav here, the strategist-turned-politician later backed out. Chanchal Singh from JSP contested from this seat instead.
Tej Pratap Yadav (JJD) vs Mukesh Raushan (RJD) in Mahua
In neighbouring Mahua, the battle seems to have turned intensely personal. Tejashwi’s elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, expelled from the RJD earlier this year, is contesting under his new banner, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD). He faces RJD’s Mukesh Raushan and LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Sanjay Singh in a multi-cornered fight. Tej Pratap, who won Mahua in 2015, hopes to reclaim his political base with the backing of smaller regional outfits allied with his JJD.
Samrat Choudhary (BJP) vs Arun Shah (RJD) in Tarapur
In Tarapur, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary (BJP) faces RJD’s Arun Shah in a contest defined by caste arithmetic. With a mix of Yadavs, upper castes, Kushwahas, Dalits and Muslims, Tarapur’s voting patterns will be closely scrutinised as a reflection of NDA’s grassroots support versus the RJD’s backward caste outreach.
Maithili Thakur (BJP) vs Binod Mishra (RJD) in Alinagar
Another intriguing debut comes from Darbhanga’s Alinagar constituency, where folk singer and BJP’s cultural face Maithili Thakur, 25, is making her political debut. She faces RJD’s Binod Mishra and JSP’s Biplaw Kumar Chowdhary. The BJP is banking on Thakur’s cultural appeal in the Mithila region to consolidate upper-caste and Maithil votes.
Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP) vs Suraj Kumar (JSP) in Lakhisarai
In Lakhisarai, BJP heavyweight and Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha is eyeing a sixth consecutive victory, facing Jan Suraaj Party’s Suraj Kumar. The constituency has long been a BJP bastion, dominated by upper-caste Bhumihars and RSS-aligned voters. Sinha, a civil engineer turned politician, had previously made history as Bihar’s first BJP Speaker in 2020.
Ratnesh Kushwaha (BJP) vs Shashant Shekhar (Congress)
In Patna Sahib, one of the capital’s most urban and politically significant constituencies, the BJP has fielded Ratnesh Kushwaha, a 45-year-old lawyer, replacing veteran MLA Nand Kishore Yadav, who has represented the seat since 2008. The Congress has fielded Shashant Shekhar, 35, marking a generational shift in both parties’ approach.
Stakes and the scale
This year’s Bihar polls were conducted following a special intensive revision of electoral rolls, which reduced the total voter count to 7.24 crore, about 60 lakh fewer than before the revision. Yet, the record turnout points to heightened public engagement, especially among women and first-time voters.
According to political commentators, the high turnout could either reflect anti-incumbency sentiment against the Nitish-led NDA or a renewed mandate driven by women voters who benefited from the current government’s welfare schemes.