Bihar Records 13.13% Voter Turnout Till 9 AM as Phase 1 Polling Gains Momentum Across 121 Constituencies

Patna: Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections picked up pace on Thursday, with the state recording a voter turnout of 13.13% till 9 a.m., according to preliminary data released by the Election Commission. The polling, which began at 7 a.m., is being held across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, and will continue till 6 p.m. in most areas.

Among the districts, Begusarai led the voter participation charts early on with 14.60% turnout, while Lakhisarai saw the lowest polling at around 7% during the initial hours. Election officials expressed optimism that the participation rate would increase steadily as the day progresses.

This phase holds significant weight in the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, as it will determine the fate of 1,314 candidates, including several political heavyweights. The prominent names in the fray include RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, contesting from Raghopur, his brother and Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav from Mahua, and Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha from the ruling NDA camp.

For security reasons, authorities have shortened voting hours to 5 p.m. in certain sensitive constituencies such as Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and 56 booths under the Suryagarha seat. Enhanced security arrangements, including deployment of central forces, have been made to ensure peaceful and fair polling.

The elections are a crucial test for both the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The second phase of voting is scheduled for November 11, while results will be declared on November 14.