20th Nov : Bihar 6th and last Phase voting completed today i.e on 20th November, Saturday with 26 constituencies going into polling.

The six-phased Bihar elections enters the last lap on Saturday when 26 constituencies, 18 of them in Maoist strongholds, go to the polls with officials fervently hoping that the exercise proceeds as peacefully as the earlier rounds.

Caste arithmetic, rampant corruption, rule of law and development will be on the anvil as 426 candidates test their luck in the elections being held in five drought-hit districts of Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur and Buxar.

The stakes are high in this make-or-mar electoral exercise for both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeking the people's mandate for another term, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, desperate to scramble to power in his home state.

While Nitish Kumar, who heads the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for company, Lalu Prasad has tied up with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

About six million voters, who are eligible to vote, will decide the fate of the two rival camps.

'The last round will witness a close fight and caste will be a key factor to decide the outcome. Rampant corruption at the district to block level will also be an issue,' political watcher Soroor Ahmad said.

Another analyst, Satyanarain Madan, added that caste could overshadow other factors at the ground level.

The ruling coalition is banking heavily on the support of upper castes, extremely backward castes and Mahadalits along with other backward castes, including voters from Nitish Kumar's own caste Kurmi, Koeris and Muslims.

However, the RJD-LJP candidates are hoping to bag the votes of their traditional base -- Yadavs, Paswans and Muslims. They are hoping to dent the upper castes vote base, unhappy with Nitish Kumar over a proposed law to protect farm tenants.

For complete Election Schedule of Bihar elections click here..>>

Constituencies in which election is took place in sixth phase