Phase 1 Bihar polls: Key leaders, small parties face crucial test
Phase 1 Bihar polls: Key leaders, small parties face crucial test
Voters in 121 Bihar constituencies cast ballots as big leaders and smaller outfits battle for impact in Phase 1 of the 2025 assembly elections.
Over 3.75 crore voters in Bihar will participate as the first phase of the Assembly elections goes to the polls on Thursday, November 6, 2025, covering 121 of the state’s 243 constituencies. This opening phase is widely viewed as a litmus test for the Opposition Mahagatbandhan, which had secured 63 seats in 2020, compared with the NDA’s combined tally of 55. The phase will also reveal the pulse of smaller parties across the coalitions, including CPI(ML), LJP(RV) and VIP, which are aiming to punch above their weight in a contest that could reshape post-poll power dynamics. \n\nIn this phase, the CPI(ML) has fielded candidates in 20 seats, with six of those seats falling in the first phase. The party historically posted a strong strike rate in 2020 and will be keen to retain or grow its footprint this time around. On the NDA side, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting 10 of its 29 seats in Phase 1, though the party currently holds only one of those seats, fueling internal debate within its alliance partners about seat allocations. The Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) is contesting six of the 15 seats it has in play in Phase 1, a test of whether Mukesh Sahani’s outfit can carve out its own space within the Opposition fold, where Sahani has been named Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate by the Mahagatbandhan. \n\nBesides party dynamics, the phase spotlights several high-profile contenders. The Opposition’s CM face, Tejashwi Yadav, is in the fray, as are Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha in the Nitish Kumar government. Choudhary, a key NDA figure, is contesting a direct election in this phase, a contest many analysts say will be closely watched for indications about the NDA’s strength in specific pockets. Among the most watched seats are Raghopur, where Tejashwi Yadav has a strong base, and Tarapur, traditionally a bellwether seat for NDA leadership. The phase is not only a test of personal mandates but also of how alliances perform in regions that shape the political narrative for the rest of the elections. \n\nAs voters head to polls, observers say Phase 1 will set the tone for subsequent phases, testing the staying power of coalitions, candidate viability, and the ability of smaller parties to influence outcomes outside traditional strongholds. The coming hours and days will reveal where Bihar’s political allegiances stand and which leadership teams can translate campaign rhetoric into votes.
Cover image source: Bihar election 2025 Phase 1: Key dates, constituencies and voting schedule 🔗
