The big day: Bihar phase one voting begins

Polling for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections begins across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Voting starts at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m., however, in certain sensitive areas, including Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and 56 polling booths in Suryagarha, polling will conclude at 5 p.m. due to security considerations. Additional forces have been deployed in vulnerable regions to ensure peaceful and orderly voting.

In this phase, over 3.75 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates, among them 122 women and one transgender candidate, Priti Kinnar of the Jan Suraj Party, contesting from Bhorey in Gopalganj district. Arrangements such as micro-observers, webcasting, and security checkpoints have been put in place to monitor the polling process closely.

Within the NDA, JD(U) is contesting 57 seats, BJP 48, LJP (Ram Vilas) 14, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha 2. In the Mahagathbandhan, RJD fielded 73 candidates, followed by Congress (24) and CPI(ML) (14). The newly formed Jan Suraj Party has fielded 119 candidates in this phase. In Rajapakar, Bachwara, Beldaur, Gaura Boram, and Bihar Sharif, alliance partners are facing each other, resulting in multi-cornered contests.

The first phase is significant for the ruling coalition, with the electoral fortunes of 16 ministers at stake, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary (Tarapur) and Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai). Former BJP state president Mangal Pandey is contesting from Siwan, while JD(U)’s Shravan Kumar seeks an eighth consecutive term from Nalanda. Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary is in the fray from Sarai Ranjan.

On the Opposition side, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate, is contesting from Raghopur. He faces a major challenge from Satish Kumar Yadav of the Bharatiya Janata Party. His brother Tej Pratap Yadav is contesting from Mahua as nominee of the Jan Shakti Janta Dal.

In the run-up to polling, major parties conducted extensive campaigning. Tejashwi Yadav addressed multiple rallies across Patna, Vaishali, and Nalanda, emphasizing development, jobs, and social welfare. The BJP and JD(U) focused on infrastructure achievements, law and order, and governance, holding roadshows and public meetings in districts like Munger, Lakhisarai, and Siwan. The RJD also used social media campaigns, local community outreach, and door-to-door canvassing, while regional parties like the Jan Suraj Party and VIP held smaller rallies highlighting local issues and new leadership.

Two prominent cultural figures have also entered the electoral arena in Phase 1 of the Bihar elections. Folk singer Maithili Thakur is contesting from Alinagar in Darbhanga on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, while Bhojpuri actor-singer Khesari Lal Yadav is running from Chapra on a Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket. Both constituencies are scheduled to go to polls in the first phase on November 6, highlighting the growing trend of celebrities entering politics.

The Election Commission has urged voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights responsibly.