Slow start, high-stakes as Bihar votes in phase 1

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections began on a cautious yet charged note on November 6, with polling opening at 7 a.m across 121 constituencies out of the state's 243 constituencies.

As of 9 a.m., voter turnout stood at 13.13%, with Saharsa leading the charts at 15.27%, followed by Begusarai (14.6%) and Muzaffarpur (14.38%).

More than 3.75 crore voters will decide the fortunes of 1,314 candidates — including two of Bihar’s most prominent political figures — Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, the India bloc’s chief ministerial face, and BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. The polling for final phase will be conducted on November 11 and counting of votes will take place on November 14.

High-stakes contests define early phase

The spotlight in this round is on Raghopur, where Tejashwi Yadav seeks a hat-trick against NDA’s Satish Kumar (BJP) and Jan Suraaj Party’s Chanchal Kumar. In Tarapur, Deputy CM Choudhary faces RJD’s Arun Shah, while in Mahua, Tejashwi’s estranged brother Tej Pratap Yadav is battling RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan and LJP’s Sanjay Singh.

Among other key names, Bhojpuri star and RJD candidate Khesari Lal Yadav from Chapra emphasized development over personal attacks, saying, “I am here for jobs, education, and healthcare, not for individual fights.”

Leaders cast votes early

Several senior politicians turned up early to vote, including Tejashwi Yadav — accompanied by his father, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad — at a booth in Patna’s Veterinary College. Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, and State Minister Nitin Nabin also exercised their franchise in their respective constituencies.

Controversy and campaign noise

Union Minister Giriraj Singh courted controversy, demanding that women wearing burqas lift their veils for identification at polling booths. “This is a secular country. The Election Commission’s rules must apply equally,” he said.

BJP candidate Maithili Thakur, contesting from Alinagar, promised to build a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a degree college, and better roads if elected. Meanwhile, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma declared the 2025 election “the end of jungle raj,” crediting the Election Commission for ensuring “transparency and fairness.”

This election follows a special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar’s voter list, which now includes 7.24 crore electors — about 60 lakh fewer than before the revision.

PM’s appeal to voters

Ahead of polling, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to “vote with full enthusiasm,” calling the election a “festival of democracy.” He extended special greetings to first-time voters, urging them to shape the state’s future.

As the day unfolds, all eyes remain on Bihar’s political heartlands — where legacy, loyalty, and change are colliding in equal measure.