Bihar witnessed strong voter participation in the first phase of the Assembly elections on Thursday, with turnout reaching 53.77% by 3 PM.
Polling for 121 constituencies across 18 districts began at 7 AM and is scheduled to continue until 6 PM, except in six Naxal-affected constituencies where voting will conclude at 5 PM.
Among the districts, Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 59.82%, followed by Muzaffarpur at 58.40% and Gopalganj at 58.17%. Patna district reported the lowest turnout at 48.69%. Other districts recorded the following turnout figures by 3 PM: Bhojpur 50.07%, Buxar 51.69%, Darbhanga 51.75%, Khagaria 54.77%, Munger 52.17%, Nalanda 52.32%, Saharsa 55.22%, Samastipur 56.35%, Saran 54.60%, Sheikhpura 49.37%, Siwan 50.93%, and Vaishali 53.63%.
Constituency-wise, Minapur (64.72%), Cheria Bariarpur (62.55%), Paroo (63.73%), Baruraj (62.01%), Baikunthpur (61.08%), and Bachhwara (60.98%) recorded the highest voter participation. The lowest turnout was observed in Bankipur (34.80%), Kumhrar (37.73%), Digha (37.89%), Arrah (43.52%), and Agiaon (44.05%).
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote in Bakhtiyarpur, while Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, contesting from Tarapur and Lakhisarai, also exercised their franchise. Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, voting at Patna Sahib, urged citizens to participate in large numbers, describing the elections as a “festival of democracy” and appealing to voters to help form a “good government in Bihar.”
Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha, whose party is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), expressed confidence in the coalition’s prospects, suggesting that voting trends indicated a “thumping majority” for the NDA. He added that while the Mahagathbandhan may appear optimistic, the overall voter mood favored the ruling alliance.
This phase will be crucial for several prominent candidates, including RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey, and JD(U) ministers Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, estranged son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and founder of the Janshakti Janta Dal, is also in the fray from the Mahua seat in Vaishali district.
In the 2020 Assembly elections, polling was held in three phases, with the NDA securing 125 seats and the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) 110. Among major parties, JD(U) won 43 seats, BJP 74, RJD 75, and Congress 19.