India-Nepal Border Closure: 72-Hour Security Measure Implemented for Bihar Phase 2 Elections

The second phase of Bihar elections is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, prompting security measures along the international border.

Border points connecting Nepal and India have been shut for 72 hours beginning Saturday in preparation for the upcoming second phase of Bihar elections.

Multiple districts including Sarlahi, Mahottari, and Rauthat have implemented the closure. Notably, Mahottari district has sealed all eleven of its border crossings with India.

Sanjay Kumar Pokhrel, Assistant Chief District Officer of Mahottari, informed ANI, "Due to security considerations for the November 11 Bihar election, we have suspended cross-border movement. All border points in Mahottari district have been sealed from 22 Kartik (November 8) through 25 Kartik (November 11). The closure began at 6 PM yesterday and will continue until 6 PM Tuesday."

Local administration has also heightened alert levels in response to the electoral process in the neighboring Indian state.

District Administration Offices situated along the India-Nepal border have announced that all cross-border travel will be prohibited during the closure period, with exceptions only for emergency situations.

The 72-hour border sealing during elections has become a standard security protocol, regardless of whether the elections are taking place in Nepal or India.

Security forces from both nations collaborate closely to ensure stability during these periods.

The second phase of Bihar elections is set for Tuesday, with results expected to be announced on Friday.

The upcoming electoral phase covers 122 constituencies across 20 districts. The first phase already saw voting across 121 seats in 18 districts.

This phase features 1,302 candidates competing for seats, with 136 women candidates representing approximately 10 percent of the total. Voting will be conducted at 45,399 polling centers for 3.70 crore eligible voters—comprising 1.95 crore men and 1.74 crore women.

In the 2020 elections for these constituencies, the BJP secured 42 seats, while the RJD won 33, JDU claimed 20, Congress obtained 11, and the Left parties secured 5. During the 2015 elections, when the JDU and RJD were coalition partners, the BJP's representation fell to 36 seats, while the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance won 80 out of these 122 seats.

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