Bihar polls phase 1: Turnout 64.46 pc; ‘attack’ on DyCM’s convoy sparks row
Phase 1 polling takes place soon after SIR of electoral rolls; Tejashwi Yadav aims for a hat-trick in Raghopur, where BJP has fielded Satish Kumar Yadav
Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 64.46 per cent in the first phase of the Assembly elections on Thursday (November 6). This is the highest voter turnout in any single phase or overall elections in Bihar at least in the past 20 years.
Voting began at 7 am, with over 3.75 crore voters set to decide the electoral fate of 1,314 candidates, including top leaders such as the INDIA bloc's Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.
Voting took place at 45,341 polling stations, an overwhelming majority of which (36,733) were in rural areas. Voting concluded at 6 pm. According to the Election Commission (EC), the voting percentage was 64.46 per cent.
Of the 3.75 crore voters in the 121 constituencies, 10.72 lakh were “new electors”, said the EC. The number of voters in the age group of 18-19 years, though, was 7.38 lakh.
The Assembly elections are taking place soon after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which now has 7.24 crore voters across the state, about 60 lakh less than the size before the exercise was undertaken.
Tejashwi Yadav aims for a hat-trick in Raghopur, where the BJP has fielded Satish Kumar Yadav against him. Satish Kumar, who was with the JD(U) earlier, had defeated Tejashwi's mother Rabri Devi in 2010.
The second phase of voting is on November 11, while the results will be declared on November 14.
Also read: Bihar elections Phase 1: Tejashwi, Samrat in key fights
Follow the live updates of voting in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections here.
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- 7 Nov 2025 7:12 AM IST
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- 6 Nov 2025 8:41 PM IST
Bihar records 64.46 pc turnout in phase 1 of polls
A voter turnout of 64.46 per cent was recorded provisionally at the close of polling in 121 seats in the first phase of assembly elections in Bihar on Thursday (November 6), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said.
Gunjiyal said that barring a few incidents of “minor scuffles” in Lakhisarai and Saran, polling passed off peacefully. “A total of 143 complaints were received and were immediately resolved,” he added.
Gunjiyal said polling was boycotted in certain booths in Buxar, Fatuha and Suryagarha.
The remaining 122 seats of the 243-member assembly will vote on November 11, while the counting will take place on November 14. - 6 Nov 2025 6:53 PM IST
Samrat Chaudhary claims 4–5 pc rise in turnout
On the first phase of polling, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary says, “The way common voters in Bihar are coming out to vote clearly shows that this election has seen a 4–5 per cent increase in voter turnout compared to the last election... According to reports from our representatives, after the first phase, the NDA is winning around 100 of 121 seats, and this is set to break the 2010 results. The chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan (Tejashwi Yadav) is also going to lose in today’s election... This time too, no one from Lalu Prasad’s entire family will win the election. Everyone will face defeat in the elections...” - 6 Nov 2025 5:42 PM IST
Bihar's youth to oust NDA from power, elect CM who will give jobs: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP and JD(U) during a rally in Bihar's East Champaran district, claiming that the state's youth have made up their minds to "oust the NDA from power and elect a chief minister who will give jobs, not jumla".
Addressing a rally as part of campaigning for the INDIA bloc candidates in the assembly polls, Yadav asserted that the people's mood across the state was "against the ruling NDA".
“Half of Bihar is voting today, the other half is waiting for its turn. All of Bihar is sending just one message. This time, the youth will oust the NDA from power and elect a chief minister who will give jobs, not jumla (rhetoric), and this time, Bihar will write the BJP’s defeat.” Alleging that the BJP and its allies had "failed to provide employment, tame inflation and ensure farmers’ welfare", Yadav said people were asking for accountability.
“In 10 years of Delhi’s (BJP-led central) government and 20 years of Bihar’s government, tell me, how many youth got jobs? They promised that farmers’ income would be doubled. Has anyone’s income doubled?” he asked, as the crowd responded with a loud “No”.
Taking a swipe at BJP leaders’ development claims, Yadav said he recently heard a Delhi-based professor talk about expressways being built from Gorakhpur to far-off places.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:27 PM IST
Watch | What's the ground situation amid vote theft allegations? Live from Patna
As Bihar votes, The Federal’s Political Editor Puneet Nicholas Yadav joins us live from Patna after an extensive state tour. From voter enthusiasm to women’s response to manifesto promises and the impact of Rahul Gandhi’s Election Commission charges, we decode the pulse of Bihar.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:26 PM IST
Watch | Bihar Assembly Election Phase 1: What are the takeaways from the voter turnout?
Phase 1 of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 is underway with 121 constituencies voting today. The Mahagathbandhan and the NDA are engaged in a pitched battle in most of the seats. How has the state voted over the day? What's the reading on the ground? Watch The Federal in conversation with a panel of experts and journalists from Bihar.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:24 PM IST
Ground report from Mokama, Bihar: 'Bahubali' bastion votes in high-stakes clash
Mokama, one of Bihar’s most politically charged constituencies, is voting in the first phase of the Assembly elections. The 'Bahubali' contest has turned into a prestige fight between JD(U)’s Anand Singh and LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Veena Devi, wife of former MP Suraj Bhan Singh. Voters at Hatida booths say the focus this time is on “development over caste”, even as Mokama’s long history of power, rivalry, and strongman politics continues to shadow the election.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:23 PM IST
NDA preparing to steal Bihar polls just like Haryana: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi today alleged that the NDA was "preparing to steal" the assembly polls in Bihar, "just like they did in Haryana".
Addressing back-to-back public rallies in Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts, the Congress general secretary alleged that the EC was "colluding with the government to weaken our Constitution and democratic rights". "Just like they stole the entire election in Haryana, they are preparing to do the same in Bihar by deleting 65 lakh votes from the rolls," she said.
The Haryana assembly polls last year were "stolen", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday, citing electoral list data to claim that 25 lakh entries were fake and the Election Commission colluded with the BJP to ensure the party's victory.
"Rahul Gandhi's fight is for you and truth; he is fighting the same battle that Mahatma Gandhi once fought," Priyanka asserted. She claimed that those who are "betraying" this country will "not be forgotten" by the people.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:22 PM IST
JJD will emerge as serious political force after Bihar polls: Tej Pratap
Exuding confidence that he will win the Mahua seat where polling was underway on Thursday, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) founder Tej Pratap Yadav said his party would emerge as a "serious political force" after the Bihar elections. The JJD is fighting elections on 44 seats.
"I am confident the people of Mahua will bless me again. Why won't they? I have worked for them, and they know it," he told PTI-Video.
Asked about a section of BJP leaders praising him, Yadav said good work must be lauded and the tendency to indulge in "negative rhetoric" must be criticised.
"If someone does good work, they should be congratulated. If they do bad work, they should be questioned. We believe in doing good work, and people will appreciate us," he said.
On reports that he recently met his mother, the former CM Rabri Devi, he said he has not met either of his parents since leaving home.
Yadav skirted questions on whether he would align with the BJP or the opposition coalition, led by his estranged brother Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD.
- 6 Nov 2025 5:20 PM IST
EC asks DGP to take action as Bihar Dy CM alleges convoy attacked by RJD supporters
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha caused a flutter on Thursday, alleging that his convoy had been attacked by workers of the main opposition party, RJD, who were trying to "intimidate" voters in the area.
The senior BJP leader, who is seeking re-election for a fourth consecutive term, expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the local administration, saying he would take up the matter with the EC. Reacting to the alleged incident, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed the state DGP to take "immediate action".
"No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Strict action will be taken against the miscreants," an official said, quoting Kumar.
Lakhisarai SP Ajay Kumar said polling was continuing in the area where Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by RJD supporters.
"I have received reports of some protests over broken roads, but I will be able to confirm what actually happened only after visiting the site," the SP said.
Talking to reporters, the Deputy CM said, "Since morning, RJD supporters have been intimidating voters belonging to extremely backward classes. The local SP is a coward. He says there is peace all around, when the fact is that people are not being allowed to vote".
"You can see one of the cars in my cavalcade, which has been damaged by the opposition party goons who hurled stones, slippers and cow dung when our men tried to stop them. One of my workers, Vibhishan Kevat, was beaten up badly. He has been admitted to a hospital, and there has not been a single arrest", Sinha said.
Accusing the RJD of resorting to violence, the deputy chief minister said, "The party has shown what it stands for. When this is their behaviour while out of power, if they win the polls even by fluke, what will ensue will be nothing short of the law of the jungle." Expressing serious dissatisfaction with the response of the local administration, the Deputy CM said, "The matter will be raised before the Election Commission. The questionable conduct of the official concerned with be reviewed and action will follow".
