Patna: Bihar’s high-stakes Assembly elections kick off today with the first phase of polling across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, including Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Saharsa.
Voting will start at 7 AM. While most booths will remain open till 6 PM, polling in parts of Munger, Jamalpur, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi and select booths in Suryagarha will conclude at 5 PM due to security concerns.
Security, Tech and Inclusivity: Poll Body on High Alert
A robust security setup is in place with Central Armed Police Forces and state police deployed across 45,341 polling stations, each equipped with webcasting for real-time monitoring from a Command and Control Centre.
Promoting women’s participation, 926 booths will be managed entirely by women, while 107 booths will be run by specially-abled personnel. 320 model booths with enhanced voter facilities have also been arranged.
Bihar’s first poll phase records 27.65% turnout by 11 AM as 3.75 crore voters decide the fate of 1,314 candidates.
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A dedicated control room at the CEO’s office in Patna will address complaints via phone, fax or email. Special arrangements like mobile deposit facilities are also available.
1,314 Candidates, 3.75 Crore Voters, One Decisive Day
The electoral fate of 1,314 candidates — including 122 women — rests in the hands of over 3.75 crore electors in this first phase.
Among NDA allies, JD(U) contests 57 seats, followed by BJP 48, LJP (Ram Vilas) 14, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha 2.
In the Mahagathbandhan, RJD leads with 73 seats, followed by Congress 24 and CPI(ML) 14. VIP has fielded 5 candidates, while CPM and CPI are fighting 3 each. The newly-inducted Indian Inclusive Party is contesting 3 seats.
Outside the alliances, Jan Suraj Party has thrown in 119 candidates, while BSP, RLJP (Paras), and AIMIM are also contesting multiple seats.
Star Candidates, Big Battles
Political heavyweights are in action, including:
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Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary (Tarapur) and Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai)
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16 Ministers from CM Nitish Kumar’s cabinet
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Tejashwi Yadav from Raghopur, vying for CM post from Mahagathbandhan
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Former Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP) from Danapur
New faces add glamour to the contest:
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Folk sensation Maithili Thakur (Alinagar)
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Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav (Chapra)
Also in the race: Deputy Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav, former Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary, and Osama Shahab, son of the late RJD strongman Shahabuddin.
With tight contests, high-profile stakes, and sweeping security measures, Bihar’s democratic showdown begins today — and all eyes are on the voters.
