‘Historic turnout’: Bihar records 64.66 pc polling in 1st phase, CEC says highest since 1951
The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has ended, and the numbers are in: about 64.7 % of eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots. That’s the highest turnout Bihar has seen in more than 70 years of voting.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised the voters for the “historic” turnout and thanked the whole election machinery for its transparency and hard work. He said the voters’ confidence in the Election Commission was clear in the way they lined up at polling booths.
The current turnout tops the records from the last three assembly polls – 56.1 % in 2020, 55.9 % in 2015, and 52.1 % in 2010. By 7 p.m., voters in 121 seats across 188 districts had given 63.2 % participation, up from 60.1 % at 5 p.m.
District‑wise, Muzaffarpur led the way with 70.96 % of voters present, followed closely by Samastipur at 70.63 % and Begusarai at 68.26 %. In Begusarai, the Bachhwara seat (AC 142) reported the highest turnout of 69.67 % by 5 p.m.
At 3 p.m., the overall participation hit 53.8 %. Patna district lagged with a 48.7 % turnout, while Muzaffarpur and other districts like Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga and Gopalganj hovered around 55‑60 %. The average turnout by 1 p.m. stood at 42.3 % across all constituencies.
A total of 1,314 candidates—1,192 men and 122 women—contested in this phase. The Election Commission counts 3.75 crore voters, including 1.98 crore men, 1.76 crore women and 758 third‑gender voters, spread over 45,341 polling stations (36,733 rural and 8,608 urban). It has set up 320 model booths, 926 women‑managed stations, and 107 accessible for people with disabilities. All polling stations now broadcast live, allowing observers to watch the process in real‑time.
Over 15 police and paramilitary battalions patrol the 18 districts, focusing on sensitive and Naxal‑affected areas. Voting in those zones closes an hour early, at 5 p.m. Training mock polls ran in the early morning to ensure the voting system ran smoothly.
The Bihar Assembly election has seen a surge in voter turnout, reflecting an engaged electorate and a robust electoral process. As Phase II approaches, the final tally will determine Bihar’s next government.
Source: ianslive
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