Campaigning for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections ends

Campaigning for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, covering 121 out of 243 constituencies, concluded at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, ending weeks of fierce political activity ahead of polling on November 6. The final hours saw impassioned appeals from leaders across parties, as both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan pushed hard to secure a head start in the multi-phase contest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing women voters through the NaMo App, voiced strong confidence that the NDA would outshine all previous performances. “The people of Bihar have made up their mind to make NDA victorious and break the record of the last 20 years. The people of ‘Jungle Raj’ will see their biggest defeat,” he said, targeting the RJD-Congress combine. Modi claimed that Bihar’s development could only continue under NDA governance, highlighting achievements in infrastructure, law and order, and women’s empowerment. He pointed to initiatives like Mudra Yojana, Jivika Didi, and Dairy schemes, saying they helped women become entrepreneurs and job creators. He also hinted at upcoming metro projects in cities such as Patna to further urbanize Bihar.

On the opposition side, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav spearheaded a campaign centered on employment and economic justice, promising 10 lakh government jobs within the first cabinet meeting if elected. He also pledged better minimum support prices for farmers, expanded educational aid for girls, and a renewed push for private investment to tackle youth migration. The Congress, echoing similar concerns, accused the NDA government of failing to curb unemployment and inflation while neglecting social welfare.

Election commission tightens security

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been on high alert to ensure free and fair polling across all constituencies. Officials have reported seizures worth ₹108 crore so far, including ₹9 crore in unaccounted cash, ₹42 crore worth of liquor, ₹24 crore in drugs, and ₹26 crore in gold, freebies, and valuables. Nearly 950 people have been detained in connection with these recoveries. The ECI clarified that these figures reflect enforcement activity and cannot be directly linked to any particular party pending investigation.

To address voter safety and prevent electoral malpractice, the Commission has increased flying squads, bank surveillance units, and real-time vehicle tracking for cash and liquor movement. Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive districts such as Aurangabad, Rohtas, and Gaya, with CCTV surveillance in all strong rooms storing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Despite these safeguards, the ECI continues to face scrutiny from opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, recalling his earlier criticism during the Karnataka elections over alleged “vote theft,” raised questions about transparency in the current Bihar polls as well. Several RJD and Congress leaders have urged the Commission to increase random EVM checks and release polling data publicly at the booth level, citing public distrust after past controversies.

In response, the ECI has reinforced EVM security, clarifying that every machine is sealed, tracked, and verified with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units in every polling station. It stated that five random booths per constituency would undergo VVPAT counting to cross-check results with electronic tallies, and independent observers have been stationed in all critical areas. The Commission also launched a digital complaint portal allowing voters to report any suspected malpractice anonymously.

ECI officials insisted that the integrity of the Bihar election process is fully protected, with the Commission calling it “one of the most closely monitored polls in the country’s recent history.”

Voter sentiment, spending, and digital campaigns

Voter sentiment across Bihar appears divided but deeply engaged. The youth are drawn to employment promises, while rural households focus on price stability, electricity, and road connectivity. Women have emerged as a decisive force, bolstered by welfare schemes and microfinance opportunities.

Meanwhile, this year’s campaign has seen an unprecedented rise in digital outreach, with parties spending an estimated ₹4.8 crore on online ads across social media platforms. Total campaign expenditure across major alliances is expected to cross ₹200 crore, despite the ₹40 lakh spending limit per candidate imposed by the ECI.

The Bihar Assembly election will be conducted in three phases, November 6, 13, and 20 under tight security. Counting of votes will take place on December 3. The NDA, which won 125 seats in 2020 against the Mahagathbandhan’s 110, faces a tough challenge in retaining power amid growing calls for economic revival and employment.

For now, as political rallies fall silent and the focus shifts to ballot boxes, Bihar stands at the threshold of yet another defining election - one that will test not just Nitish Kumar’s legacy, but also the credibility of India’s democratic machinery.