New Delhi – Voting in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections wrapped up on Thursday, with the Election Commission reporting a 60.13 % turnout by 5 pm across 121 seats. The polls ran in 18 districts, and voters who joined the queue before 5 pm were still allowed to cast their ballots.
High Voter Turnout in Key Districts
Begusarai led the way with a 67.32 % turnout, followed closely by Samastipur (66.65 %) and Madhepura (65.74 %). The Bachhwara seat in Begusarai recorded the highest local turnout at 69.67 %. Women voters were particularly visible in the crowds, reflecting Bihar’s growing female voter participation.
Reports of Isolated Clashes
The only significant incidents were isolated clashes that broke out in a few booths. The most serious occurred in Lakhisarai, where the convoy of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP) was surrounded by stone‑ and slipper‑throwing supporters. Security forces stepped in quickly, restoring order after a tense standoff.
Sinha accused opposition RJD supporters of orchestrating the attack and of intimidation at the polling sites. RJD and other opposition parties claimed “targeted disruptions” at certain booths, including alleged power cuts to weaken the ruling coalition’s strongholds.
Election Commission’s Response
The Chief Electoral Officer, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, rejected these claims as “completely baseless and misleading.” He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that voting was proceeding smoothly at all polling stations and that the Election Commission was following standard protocols to keep the process fair, transparent, and uninterrupted. Repeated updates highlighted that voters were exercising their rights without obstruction and that administration teams were monitoring booths closely.
Who’s Contesting
A total of 1,314 candidates contested the first‑phase seats. The fight is mainly between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by JD‑U’s Nitish Kumar, and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, headed by Tejashwi Yadav. Sharanya’s Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor, is also in the mix and could swing results in a few key seats.
Notable faces include:
- Tejashwi Yadav (Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate)
- BJP’s Samrat Chaudhury and Vijay Kumar Sinha (both incumbent deputy chief ministers)
- JD‑U’s Umesh Kushwaha and RJD’s Bhola Yadav, a close aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav
- Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) and folk singer Maithili Thakur (BJP)
In Mokama, JD‑U candidate Anant Singh faced arrest on a murder charge while campaigning for JSP’s Priyadarshi Piyush, adding another layer of drama to the election.
Looking Ahead
The first phase will shape the contest for the remaining 101 seats. With a solid turnout and no major disruptions reported, the focus now turns to the next voting days, where the outcome of Bihar’s political landscape will be decided.
Source: ianslive
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