The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 is underway today, with 121 constituencies out of the total 243 casting their votes. Polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m. in most regions and 5 p.m. in selected sensitive areas. As of 9:00 a.m., the State recorded a 13.13% voter turnout, according to the Chief Electoral Office.
Among the districts, Saharsa reported the highest turnout at 15.27%, while Lakhisarai registered the lowest at 7%. In the State capital Patna, polling activity remained relatively slow, with turnout at 11.22% by 9 a.m. Authorities have deployed additional security forces across polling booths to ensure peaceful and transparent voting.
This phase is witnessing a high-stakes triangular contest between the NDA (BJP and JD(U)), the Mahagathbandhan (RJD and Congress), and the Jan Suraaj Party, which is making its electoral debut under the leadership of Prashant Kishor.
Several key political figures are in the fray today. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is contesting from Tarapur, while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Opposition’s Chief Ministerial face, is defending his seat in Raghopur. His brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, is contesting independently from Mahua under his Janshakti Janata Dal banner. Notably, after casting their votes, the Yadav family posed for photographs — however, Tej Pratap was absent, highlighting the ongoing rift within the family.
The third major contender, Jan Suraaj Party, is attempting to convert its grassroots campaigns into electoral gains, making this a genuinely competitive three-way battle.
As the day progresses, voter turnout is expected to rise significantly across urban and rural polling centers.
