Patna: The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections witnessed brisk polling across 121 constituencies in 18 districts on Thursday, as voters turned out early under tight security arrangements.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was among the early voters, casting his ballot at a polling booth in Bakhtiyarpur, his home constituency. After exercising his franchise, the CM proudly displayed his inked finger before the media and appealed to the public to participate actively in the electoral process.
Taking to X, Kumar shared an appeal urging citizens to embrace their democratic duty. “In a democracy, voting is not only our right but also our responsibility. Today, the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is taking place—all voters are requested to exercise their right to vote. Vote and inspire others to do the same. First vote, then refreshment,” he wrote.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 3.75 crore voters, including 19.8 million men, 17.6 million women, and 758 third-gender voters, are eligible to decide the fate of 1,314 candidates—comprising 1,192 men and 122 women—in this phase.
By 9 a.m., the voter turnout stood at 13.13%, with polling continuing steadily across all districts.
This phase features several high-stakes contests between candidates of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). The electoral battle covers regions such as Patna, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Munger, Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj, among others.
