Last Updated on November 8, 2025 11:16 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
By Aafreen Hussain
As Bihar prepares for the second phase of polling on November 11, the mood on the ground feels less like a festival of democracy and more like a test of endurance. The people are weary, the leaders anxious, and the state seems caught between the weight of its past and the uncertainty of its future.
Despite the grand rallies and fiery speeches, there is a curious stillness among voters. Across Patna’s narrow lanes, Gaya’s farmlands, and Bhagalpur’s bazaars, the most common question is not who will win—but what will really change?
The political stakes are immense. Tejashwi Yadav fights for relevance, Nitish Kumar faces perhaps the twilight of his long reign, and the BJP, though outwardly confident, calculates each move carefully—keen to avoid internal fissures or a revival of regional power blocs. Speculation runs rife in Patna’s corridors: if the BJP secures a clear majority, will Nitish Kumar be sidelined? Will the party spring a surprise with a “Sangh-approved” chief ministerial face at the last minute?
Yet beyond these political maneuvers lies a deeper unease—the voters’ quiet disillusionment. Over the years, they’ve seen promises rise and vanish like election banners in the wind. Many wonder how many names will again disappear from voter lists, how many “dead voters” will mysteriously return, or whether “scientific rigging” has merely evolved with technology.
The question Bihar poses today is larger than itself: Has India truly learned to hold free and fair elections—or merely perfected the appearance of one?
Still, Bihar remains a paradox—a land mocked for its poverty but celebrated for its intellect. From bureaucrats to scientists, writers to dreamers, its sons and daughters have left their mark across India and beyond. The state’s youth, too, carry a quiet defiance; their pride lies not in political slogans but in resilience.
As November 11 approaches, all eyes—from polling booths in Bihar to studios in Delhi—turn toward one question: Will this election renew faith in democracy, or merely rehearse its illusions?
And when the results emerge on November 14, India will discover not only who governs Bihar, but whether Bihar still believes in the promise of its democracy.