Are Final Preparations Ready for Bihar’s Second Phase of Polling in Gaya?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Polling Date: November 11, 2023
- Constituencies: 122 across 20 districts
- Eligible Voters: 3.70 crore
- Candidate Count: 1,302 including 136 women
- Historical Context: BJP won 42 seats in 2020
Gaya, Nov 10 (NationPress) The preparations are in full swing for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, which is set to take place on November 11. All essential arrangements have been finalized at the dispatch center in Gaya, where polling teams will soon head out on Monday to their designated polling stations with EVMs and other election materials.
The campaign phase has officially concluded, with the battle lines drawn, positions established, and speeches delivered. As Bihar enters a 48-hour silence period, leaders from various parties are analyzing feedback from the first phase to fine-tune their strategies and optimize their outcomes in this critical political contest.
This phase will see a total of 122 constituencies across 20 districts participating in the polls. In contrast, 121 seats were contested in the first phase across 18 districts. This time, there are 1,302 candidates in the race, including 136 women, representing approximately 10 percent of the total. Polling will take place at 45,399 centers, with an estimated 3.70 crore eligible voters, including 1.95 crore men and 1.74 crore women expected to cast their votes.
In the previous 2020 Assembly election, the BJP secured 42 out of these 122 seats, followed by the RJD with 33, JD(U) with 20, Congress with 11, and the Left parties with five. Comparatively, in the 2015 elections, when the JD(U) and RJD were in alliance, the BJP's count dropped to 36 while the JD(U)-RJD-Congress coalition claimed 80 of the 122 seats.
The constituencies involved in this phase are located across Bihar's central, western, and northern regions. The BJP typically enjoys robust support in the Tirhut, Saran, and northern Mithilanchal areas, which include districts such as East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, and Saran. Meanwhile, the JD(U), despite losing some traction in recent years, still wields influence in the Bhagalpur area. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) maintains a strong foothold in the Magadh region, which encompasses Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Jehanabad, and Arwal districts.