First phase of Bihar Assembly election comes to an end

November 6, 2025

Patna, Bihar: Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections recorded a 60.13 per cent turnout till 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Polling took place across 121 Assembly constituencies in 18 districts, where 1,314 candidates were in the fray. Among districts, Begusarai led with 67.32 per cent voting, followed by Samastipur (66.65%) and Madhepura (65.74%).

The Bachhwara constituency in Begusarai saw the highest turnout of 69.67 per cent. Long queues of women voters were seen since early morning, continuing Bihar’s trend of high female participation in elections.

Violence Reported in Lakhisarai During Deputy CM’s Campaign

Amid the otherwise smooth polling process, isolated incidents of violence were reported, including an attack on the convoy of Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Sinha in Lakhisarai.

Sinha’s vehicle was pelted with stones and slippers, allegedly by RJD supporters, leading to heated exchanges between rival party workers. Security personnel intervened swiftly to restore order.

The Deputy CM accused the RJD of intimidation and booth capture attempts, calling it evidence of a “booth-capture mindset.”

EC Denies Allegations of Power Cuts and Bogus Voting

Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), alleged targeted disruptions and power cuts at “strong booths” of the Mahagathbandhan.

However, Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal dismissed the allegations as “completely baseless and misleading.”

In a post on X, the poll body said, “Voting is taking place smoothly at all polling stations in Bihar. The Election Commission of India is ensuring the process remains fair, transparent, and uninterrupted.”

In one case flagged by the RJD, three voters in Muzaffarpur’s Sahibganj constituency claimed their votes had already been cast. Later, the CEO posted their photographs showing inked fingers, confirming that they had indeed voted.

Big Names and High Stakes in Phase-1

The first phase saw contests involving several political heavyweights, including:

• Tejashwi Yadav, RJD’s CM face from the Mahagathbandhan

• Samrat Chaudhury and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Ministers and BJP candidates

• Umesh Kushwaha, JD-U State President

• Bhola Yadav, close aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav

Also drawing attention were Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) and folk singer Maithili Thakur (BJP).

The Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) of Prashant Kishor has added an unpredictable factor in several seats, potentially splitting traditional vote banks.

Meanwhile, in Mokama, the spotlight remains on JD-U’s Anant Singh, recently arrested in a murder case, making the constituency one of the most closely watched contests in this phase.