Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: First Phase Voting Begins Across 121 Seats, Over 3.75 Crore Voters To Decide Fate Of Key Leaders
The first phase of polling for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 commenced on Thursday at 7 a.m., marking the beginning of a high-stakes electoral battle across 121 constituencies spread over 18 districts. With an estimated 3.75 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots, this phase will play a decisive role in shaping the political landscape of the state’s 243-member Assembly.
Voting will continue until 6 p.m., though in a few constituencies, polling hours have been shortened to 5 p.m. due to security considerations.
This phase is particularly crucial for several heavyweight leaders from both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan. Among those contesting are RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, BJP’s Mangal Pandey, and JD(U) ministers Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Tej Pratap Yadav, elder brother of Tejashwi and son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, is also contesting in this round.
According to the Election Commission of India, the constituencies going to polls in this phase have a combined population of around 6.6 crore, including 10.72 lakh new voters and 7.78 lakh first-time electors aged between 18 and 19 years. Election officials confirmed that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units were distributed to polling officers well ahead of voting day.
Ensuring tight security across polling booths, Patna Superintendent of Police Diksha stated that comprehensive arrangements were in place to guarantee a peaceful election.
“Area domination will be done, and patrolling parties will conduct raids tonight. From morning, there will be checks at zonal and super-zonal levels. Quick Response Teams have been formed, and communication channels established. We expect voters to vote peacefully. Women-specific and disability-friendly booths have been set up, and both CAPF and State Police are deployed at polling stations. Boats have also been arranged for polling parties,” she said.
Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate, is contesting from Raghopur, a seat he has represented since 2015. He faces a strong challenge from BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav, who narrowly lost the 2020 election.
