Overview
- Voting in 122 constituencies decided the fate of 1,302 candidates, including 12 sitting ministers, with about 3.7 crore electors eligible to vote.
- Turnout reached about 67.14% by 5 pm in Phase 2, after a roughly 65% participation rate in Phase 1, signaling sustained high engagement across both rounds.
- Security and transparency measures were extensive, with roughly 4 lakh personnel deployed, border checkpoints sealed, and webcasting at all 45,399 polling stations using EVMs and VVPATs.
- The contest centered on the NDA versus the Mahagathbandhan/INDIA bloc, with Seemanchal’s Muslim-heavy districts and several border areas emerging as key battlegrounds and Jan Suraaj adding a new variable.
- The Election Commission barred exit-poll publication until voting ended, after which multiple survey agencies projected an NDA lead; official counting is scheduled for November 14.