Bihar's Assembly elections witnessed historic women voter participation Tuesday, with female turnout reaching 71.6% exceeding male turnout by 8.8 percentage points. This surpasses the previous 2015 record when women outpaced men by 7.16 points. The state achieved its highest-ever overall voter turnout at 66.91%. Significantly, approximately 5 lakh more women than men cast their votes in absolute numbers, marking unprecedented female political engagement. The remarkable gender gap in participation reflects growing women's involvement in Bihar's democratic process. Women voters queued extensively across polling stations, including West Champaran, demonstrating enthusiastic participation. This milestone represents a significant shift in Bihar's electoral demographics, with women now not just matching but substantially exceeding male voter participation rates. (PC: The Indian Express & The Federal)

The Axis My India exit poll predicts a win for the NDA in Bihar with 121–140 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan may get 98–118 seats. The survey shows that more women voted for the NDA, while first-time and young voters favoured the Mahagathbandhan. The RJD-led alliance retained its Muslim-Yadav vote banks, while the NDA gained strong support from upper castes and older voters. Unemployed people and students backed the Opposition, but housewives and the self-employed supported the ruling alliance. Analysts warn that exit polls are not always accurate, and the final results may differ. (PC: PTI)

Exit polls ahead of the Bihar assembly elections indicate a narrow lead for the NDA, but RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has confidently dismissed these projections. He asserted that the Mahagathbandhan will cross the 160-seat mark, citing strong voter turnout among youth and women seeking change. Tejashwi claimed his ground-level feedback from across districts shows a clear wave for the opposition alliance. He also criticised exit polls as tools to influence public perception, expressing confidence that Bihar will witness a political turnaround once the actual results are declared.

The Congress party has accused Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of aiding the alleged theft of 4.5 kg of gold from Sabarimala Temple. The controversy involves gold-plated copper casings from temple idols and fittings, removed in 2019 by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), with nearly 475 g still missing. Opposition leaders claim the government protected those responsible, calling it the biggest fraud in the temple’s history. The Congress has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and the resignation of officials linked to the alleged misappropriation. (PC: The Hindu)

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party failed to make a strong impact in its Bihar debut, as exit polls showed a clear win for the ruling NDA. Kishor had said his party would be either “arsh par” (at the top) or “farsh par” (on the floor) — and results suggest the latter. Pollsters predict the NDA to win over 130 seats, while the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan may get 70–100. Jan Suraaj is expected to win only 0–5 seats. Despite Kishor’s year-long padyatra and large rallies, analysts say his campaign has not translated into votes. Results will be declared on November 14. (PC: PTI)

Exit polls for the 2025 Bihar Assembly election predict a clear win for the NDA led by Nitish Kumar. Most surveys show the alliance securing between 130 and 167 seats, crossing the majority mark of 122. The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan is projected to win around 70 to 100 seats, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is expected to get only 0 to 3 seats. Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 67.14% in this election. The final results will be declared on November 14. If predictions hold true, Nitish Kumar is likely to continue as the state’s chief minister. (PC: @Jduonline/X via PTI Photo)

Bihar recorded a historic 67.14% voter turnout in the second phase of the assembly elections on Tuesday, the highest ever for the state. Voting took place across key regions including Magadh, Champaran, and Seemanchal, known to decide state outcomes. This phase saw a tough contest between the ruling NDA and the INDIA bloc, with smaller parties like Jan Suraaj, HAM, and AIMIM adding to the mix. In 2020, the second phase recorded 58.8% turnout. Polling was held under tight security following the recent Delhi Red Fort blast. Results for all phases will be announced on November 14. (PC: X)

Bihar recorded about 48% voter turnout till 1 pm in the second phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday. Voting is taking place in key regions like Magadh, Champaran and Seemanchal, known to decide state results. The contest is mainly between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, with smaller parties such as Jan Suraaj, HAM, VIP and AIMIM expected to influence outcomes. Seemanchal, with a large Muslim and Dalit population, remains the main focus for all parties. Polling is under tight security following the recent Delhi Red Fort blast. The final results will be announced on November 14. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dubbed the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as "votebandi," asserting she would protect voter rights even if her "throat gets slashed." Urging the Election Commission to immediately stop SIR, Banerjee claimed implementation wouldn't be as easy in Bengal as Bihar, accusing the EC of following BJP directives. She criticized the Centre for holding back state employees until February's final rolls publication, calling it a "super emergency" situation. Banerjee questioned the rushed timeline, reporting houses with eight voters receiving only two forms. She also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over infiltration issues, demanding his resignation and criticizing GST revenue distribution favoring other states. (PC: NDTV)

The campaign for the Bihar assembly elections ended on Sunday evening ahead of the final phase of voting on November 11. A total of 122 seats will go to polls in this round, while 121 voted in the first phase last week. The campaign saw top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar, hold rallies across the state. The BJP and JD(U) focused on development and security, while the opposition INDIA bloc targeted the government over corruption and unemployment. The results for the high-stakes Bihar elections will be announced on November 14. (PC: PTI)