Bihar Phase 1 voter turnout hints at record engagement

Voters in Bihar turned out in significant numbers for the first phase of Assembly elections, with the Election Commission projecting a strong start as polling continued across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. If the current pace holds through the day, this phase could surpass previous turnout records. The day began at 7 am and was slated to run until 5 pm, with more than 40,000 polling stations in place to accommodate the large number of voters.

By 3 pm, turnout had reached 53.77%, a sign of sustained participation as voting continued into the afternoon. Begusarai district reported the highest percentage by that time at 59.82%, while Patna logged the lowest at 48.69%. Other districts, including Begusarai and Lakhisarai, also displayed turnout well above the overall average. In total, over 3.75 crore voters are eligible to cast ballots in this phase, choosing the fate of 1,314 candidates.

Key figures in this election include Tejashwi Yadav of the INDIA bloc and Samrat Choudhary of the BJP, who currently serves as deputy chief minister. The Election Commission data show a steady rise in turnout as the day progressed, with 9 am recording an average of 13.13%, 11 am at 27.65%, 1 pm at 42.31%, and 3 pm at 53.77%. The first phase covers major districts such as Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, and Vaishali, where many regions reported turnout around or above the overall average.

The second phase of Bihar's Assembly elections is scheduled for 11 November, spanning 122 constituencies in 20 districts. Counting of votes will take place after polls close, with results expected after a thorough tally across all phases.

Cover image source: Bihar Assembly Polls 2025 Phase 1: Everything you need to know about voting dates, candidate list, key seats, and result timeline 🔗

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