State sees highest-ever turnout since 1951 as 66.91% voters cast their ballots

During the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls in Budgam, District Magistrate Bilal M Bhat, said that the voting percentage was "really good," after paying a visit to around 10-15 polling booths.

"Voting percentage is really good... I visited 10-15 polling stations. I have seen people coming out in large numbers to cast their vote."

"We have ensured Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at all polling stations - wheelchairs, ramps, drinking water, and electricity. Booth awareness groups are present at polling stations. They are facilitating people and I am expecting a good percentage of turnout for this by-election. Security arrangements are in place...." Bhat reported. (ANI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday demonstrated that he was neither tired nor in a mood to retire as he turned up at the JD(U)'s war room in Patna to take stock of the final phase of the assembly polls that were underway, news agency PTI reported.

Kumar, who has of late been avoiding interaction with the media, did not respond to questions about the high turnout of women in the first phase, a trend which appears to continue in the second and is expected to be to his advantage as the CM's welfare measures are said to have made him immensely popular with the female population, the report stated.

Kumar walked briskly, accompanied by his close cabinet colleague Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who struggled to keep pace. (PTI)

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan, speaking to PTI, complained about the inadequate lighting at a polling booth in Bihar's Katihar,

He said, "In a democracy, institutions are given autonomy so that they can remain impartial; however under the central government, the Election Commission is acting partially. Even in my own constituency, there is no proper lighting in the polling booths... We have raised the question of how polling can take place in such booths without adequate light." (PTI)

The voter turnout in the final and second phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections, was recorded to be 47.62 per cent, as of 1 pm on Tuesday — slightly over 42.31 per cent in Phase 1 of polling held on November 6.

Odisha Chief Electoral Officer, R S Gopalan, addressing reporters on Tuesday, said that the one presiding officer was suspended for violating the secrecy of voting in Nuapada, news agency ANI reported.

"One Presiding Officer was suspended by the DEO for violating the secrecy of voting. He failed to protect the secrecy of voting. An old lady came to vote and her companion was with her. The person who accompanied her voted, instead of the lady. The lady was prevented from voting and the person accompanied voted. The Presiding Officer did not stop that. So, he was suspended...," Gopalan told ANI.

He also informed the reporters about malfunction of a few EVMs, following which they were replaced at the respective booths.

He said, "During mock poll, some machines malfunctioned and they were replaced. Three ballot units and three controlling units were replaced. Subsequently, in one booth, the EVM malfunctioned again. So, that was replaced...Voting is very peaceful. There is no law and order issue anywhere. We are monitoring through CCTV from here and from the district administration HQ also and from ECI also..." (ANI)

As voting continued in Mizoram's Dampa, Odisha's Nuapada, and Punjab's Tarn Taran Assembly seats on Tuesday, the voter turnouts were recorded to be 34.38%, 32.51% and 23.35% in these constituencies, respectively, the ECI website noted.

The voter turnout at Telangana's Jubilee Hills Assembly polls were recorded to be 20.76 per cent, as of 11 am, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website.

The voter turnout in Ghatshila Assembly bypolls being held in Jharkhand was recorded to be 34.32 per cent, as of 11 am, according to the ECI data.

Over 21 per cent voting was recorded in the early hours of polling for the bye-elections in the Budgam assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, according to the ECI website.

Polling began at 7 am in bone chilling cold as the valley witnessed sub-zero night temperatures at most places, news agency PTI reported.

Till 9 am, Budgam had recorded a polling percentage of 9.36 per cent, the officials told PTI.

The voter turnout in the final and second phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections, was recorded to be 31.38 per cent, as of 11 am on Tuesday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website.

As voting for the second phase of Bihar polls continues, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Tuesday urged all the voters to come out and exercise their franchise in initiating a change in the state.

In a post on X, he described Bihar as the birthplace of democracy and said the state has suffered for the last 20 years due to an "opportunistic", "corrupt" and "anti-poor" government and time has come for a change now.

"Bihar, the birthplace of democracy, has demonstrated in the first phase how enthusiastic its voters are for change. Today, in the second phase of voting, I urge you to cast your vote and encourage your relatives, friends, and neighbours to do the same," he wrote in his post.

"I urge every citizen to vote today, especially young people who are voting for the first time to join in this celebration of change," he added.

Noting that Bihar needs a 'model' of economic development, social justice, and equality, Kharge said, "For 20 years, Bihar has suffered under an opportunistic, corrupt, and anti-poor and deprived government. Today is the time for change."

The Congress chief said the time has come to provide justice to Dalits, Mahadalits, backward, extremely backward, economically weaker sections, and minority communities.

"Youth have the opportunity to secure jobs, women security, farmers their rights, and begin a new chapter of public welfare for all," he wrote.

Bihar will vote in the second phase of Assembly elections today (Tuesday, November 11). Nearly 3.7 crore people will cast their vote and put a seal of approval on who rules the state for the next five years.

Which seats are going to poll on Tuesday in second phase

The 122 Bihar Assembly constituencies going to poll on Tuesday, November 11 include Katihar, which will test the political fortunes of former deputy CM Tara Kishore Prasad and Jamui, where Commonwealth Games shooter and BJP MLA Shreyasi Singh will contest the polls.

How to find polling booth in Bihar?

Find out here.

Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha Tuesday casts vote in Bihar's Madhubani city, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking to reporters, Jha said, "I am seeing a very large number of women coming out to cast their votes. That's a big sign for Bihar. I believe the good governance and peace that the people of the state have experienced is something they want to continue."

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged the electors to participate actively in the festival of democracy.

"I urge all you residents of Ghatshila to actively participate in this grand festival of democracy and also encourage the people around you to vote. Today, Ghatshila will once again cast its votes in large numbers to secure its rights and entitlements," Soren posted on X.

The CM also appealed to JMM workers to remain vigilant.

"I appeal to the dedicated soldiers of the JMM family to remain vigilant while fulfilling their duties. I also extend my heartfelt best wishes to all the officials participating in the voting process," he added.

A total of 14.99 per cent of the 2.53 lakh electors exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting in the bypoll to Nuapada assembly seat in Odisha on Tuesday, an official told news agency PTI.

Voting began at 7 am in all 358 polling booths, including 47 sensitive ones, amid tight security arrangements, the report stated.

While polling will end at 5 pm in 311 polling booths, it will conclude at 4 pm in 47 sensitive ones, including those in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.

"Voting is your right, every vote is valuable. Let us participate in the Nuapada by-election and vote in large numbers," Patnaik said.

Of the 14 contestants, the key candidates are the BJD's Snehangini Chhuria, BJP's Jay Dholakia, Congress' Ghasiram Majhi, and Ramakanta Hati of the Samajwadi Party.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8. The BJP nominee is the son of the deceased.

Apart from Odisha Police personnel, 14 companies of the central armed police force (CAPF) have been deployed across Nuapada to ensure the smooth voting, Nuapada Superintendent of Police Amritpal Singh said. (PTI)

A total of 18.38 per cent of over 20,000 voters exercised their franchise till 9 am in the by-election to Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram on Tuesday, an official told news agency PTI.

Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Lalrozama said polling began at 7 am in all 41 polling stations in the assembly segment in Mamit district, which shares borders with Bangladesh and Tripura. (PTI)

A voter turnout of 11 percent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in the Tarn Taran assembly bypoll in Punjab on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.

Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, speaking to news agency PTI, said, "The voting process for the second phase has begun, and the reports coming in from everywhere are very encouraging for us and for our NDA leaders."

"The public is voting for the NDA even more than we had expected. People from all sections of society are voting in favour of the NDA, and especially among women, there is tremendous enthusiasm for the NDA. So this is very good news for us, for the NDA," he told PTI.

Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor appealed to the voters to "break the record voter turnout" in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections 2025.

"I appeal to the people of Bihar to break the record turnout of the last phase today. Vote for change in Bihar. Vote for your children's education and employment. Vote in even greater numbers than you did in the first phase so that a new system is created in Bihar on 14th November. A system that provides education and employment for your children. If you make a mistake today, if you miss it today, you will have to spend the next five years with the same system that plagues you, the corruption that troubles you. I am going to vote today," Kishor told the voters via news agency ANI.

The Bihar Police on Monday night issued a statewide security advisory following the explosion in a car in Delhi, near the Red Fort Metro Station, that left eight people dead and many injured.

In an official communication by the Bihar Deputy Inspector General (ATS), all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and Superintendents of Police (SP) have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance.

The circular instructed district police chiefs to conduct intensive checking across religious and tourist sites, crowded markets, administrative buildings, military cantonments, and all transportation hubs such as bus terminals, railway and metro stations.

The directive also called for ensuring CCTV functionality and 24-hour monitoring, strengthening border and sensitive checkpoints, and maintaining close coordination among all security agencies.

Read the full story here.

Janata Dal (United) leader Umesh Singh Kushwaha Tuesday appealed to the voters of the 122 constituencies, which are participating in the polling to vote in large numbers.

"I appeal to the voters of the 122 districts to come out and vote in large numbers for justice and development. Give pace to the double-engine government of Bihar and secure the future of your children...," Kushwaha urged, as he spoke to ANI.

The polling for the final and second phase of the Bihar Assembly Election has begun across 122 seats in Bihar, including Mithila, Kosi belt, western Bihar, Magadh, Angika and Seemanchal regions.

With Seemanchal recording a trend of higher voting in the past, all eyes will be on whether the region will also witness a similar turnout this year.

Counting of votes will take place on November 14.