Voting commenced on Tuesday morning for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, covering 122 constituencies across the state.

According to election officials, polling began at 7 a.m. under tight security arrangements and will continue until 5 p.m.,

A total of 1,302 candidates are contesting in this decisive phase, which includes several ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government.

This phase is being viewed as a major test of strength for smaller NDA allies, notably the Hindustani Awam Morcha led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha headed by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, held on November 6, concluded peacefully with a record voter turnout of 64.66 per cent—the highest in the state’s electoral history, according to Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal.

That phase covered 121 constituencies across 18 districts and saw participation from 3.75 crore electors.

Following today's polling, Bihar's crucial electoral contest will proceed to counting day. The 243 Assembly constituencies' votes will be counted on November 14. The result will determine which alliance secures the confidence of the electorate and forms the next Bihar government.