Bihar Gears Up for Crucial Second Phase of Assembly Elections
The electoral landscape of Bihar is set for a significant test as the second phase of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Election 2025 approaches. Scheduled for November 11, 2025, this phase will determine the fate of candidates across 122 assembly constituencies, covering a vast expanse of 20 districts within the state.
Essential Documents for Every Voter
In a crucial update for all electors, the Election Commission of India has clarified the identification requirements for casting a ballot. Recognizing that not every voter possesses an Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC), the commission has approved a list of 12 valid photo ID documents. Voters must carry one of these documents to their designated polling station to exercise their franchise.
The comprehensive list of acceptable proofs includes:
- Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
- Passport
- Driving licence
- MNREGA job card
- Health insurance smart-card issued under various schemes
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Bank or post office passbook with a photograph
- Government employee ID card
- NPR Smart card
- Official identity proof issued to MPs, MLAs, or MLCs
- Ayushmaan health smart card or UDID card
This inclusive approach follows a significant Supreme Court directive that officially recognizes the Aadhaar card as a valid document for identity proof in the state's electoral process. However, the court explicitly emphasised that Aadhaar does not serve as proof of citizenship.
Phase 2: A Massive Electoral Exercise
The scale of the second phase is monumental. A total of 1,302 candidates are competing for the 122 seats, with 136 women candidates (approximately 10%) adding to the democratic fervour. The election machinery will operate across 45,399 polling centres to cater to a massive electorate of 3.7 crore eligible voters. The gender breakdown reveals 1.95 crore male voters and 1.74 crore female voters.
This phase follows the highly successful first phase of polling, which was conducted on November 6, 2025, for 121 constituencies spread across 18 districts.
Record-Breaking Turnout in Phase 1
The first phase set a remarkable precedent for voter participation. According to the Election Commission of India, the initial round witnessed a historic voter turnout of 65.08%, a record for the state in recent assembly elections. The polling process concluded peacefully, with the poll authority confirming that no repolling has been recommended across the more than 45,000 polling stations utilized in this phase.
The Final Verdict Awaits
The democratic process will culminate with the counting of votes for both phases scheduled for November 14, 2025. The results from these 243 constituencies will be decisive in determining the political future of Bihar, revealing which party or coalition will form the next state government. All eyes are now on the second phase to see if it can match or surpass the enthusiastic participation demonstrated by Bihar's electorate in the first phase.
