With the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections set for November 11, Nepal has shut down vehicular traffic across multiple India-Nepal border points for 72 hours, in a security move aimed at keeping the election process orderly and free from cross-border interference.
Border closure as security precaution
In the Mahottari district of southern Nepal, all border crossings with India have been sealed, with road movement halted at the key Birgunj–Raxaul checkpoint. “The election is being conducted on November 11 in Bihar, India. Therefore, we have halted vehicular movement along the border due to security reasons,” confirmed Superintendent of Police Heramba Sharma, as per a PTI report.
The closure covers multiple border points and will remain in place until polling concludes, reflecting the heightened focus on preventing illegal entries, voter influence and unregulated goods transfer, which could affect the huge electorate across Bihar.
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The second phase of the Bihar elections spans 122 seats and carries major implications for both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Analysts say that the India-Nepal border acts as a potential channel for unmonitored movement during elections, prompting Nepal’s decision to cut cross-border traffic as a precaution.
Border points in sensitive constituencies such as Raxaul and Narkatiya have been placed under special alert in India, as per reports.
As Bihar heads into a crucial voting day, the shutdown of the India-Nepal border underlines the serious role that external-facing coordination plays in domestic elections. Whether the measure will boost the credibility of the vote or spark other logistical challenges remains to be seen.
