Phase 1 polling in the 2025 Bihar Elections is set to begin at 7:00am on Thursday, 6 November 2025.
The 243-seat Assembly Election will be conducted over two phases – on 6 November and 11 November 2025. 7.4 crore voters will cast ballots, choosing between 2,616 contenders. A three-way contest is expected between the NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Jan Suraaj Party, with a majority of 122 seats needed to win. Results will be announced on 14 November 2025, before the current Assembly term ends on 22 November 2025.
Phase 1 polls will cover 121 constituencies across 18 districts, with 1,314 candidates contesting. Polling stations will close at 6:00pm. The Chief Election Commissioner has announced that there will be 100% webcasting cross all booths.
Raghopur: In Vaishali district, the main contest will be between Tejashwi Yadav of RJD, Satish Kumar Yadav of BJP, and Chanchal Singh of JSP. This seat is an RJD stronghold and Yadav family bastion. The contest will be a prestige battle for opposition leader Tejashwi, who won by slim margins in 2015 and 2020. A loss here could dent INDIA bloc morale.
Harnaut: In Nalanda district, the main contest will be between Hari Narayan Singh of JD(U), Arun Kumar of INC, and Kamlesh Paswan (ST) of JSP. This seat was Nitish Kumar's original launchpad in 1985. It will test the JD(U)'s hold in the core Yadav-Muslim belt. The seat will act as a test for the NDA’s hold after a close margin in 2020.
Tarapur: In Munger district, the main contest will be between Samrat Choudhary of BJP, Arun Kumar of RJD, and Dr. Santosh Singh of JSP. This is NDA Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary's seat. Intra-alliance tensions and OBC dominance could expose cracks in the NDA’s armour if the Mahagathbandhan consolidates backward votes.
Lakhisarai: In Lakhisarai district, the main contest will be between Vijay Kumar Sinha of BJP, Vijay Prakash of RJD, and Suraj Kumar of JSP. This seat also falls within NDA Deputy CM's turf. It has a mixed urban-rural demography with high migration issues. BJP's narrow win in 2020 faces pushback as RJD doubles down on jobs.
Patna Sahib: In Patna district, the main contest will be between Ratnesh Kumar of BJP, Shashank Shekhar of Congress, and Vinita Mishra of JSP. This seat is an urban hub with EBC and Muslim voters. It is a swing seat that reflects the state capital's anti-incumbency tendencies, revolving around themes of development and law & order.
Phulwari Sharif (SC): In Patna district, the main contest will be between Shyam Rajak of JDU, Gopal Das Rai of CPI (ML), and Prof. Shashikant Prasad of JSP. This is a key SC-reserved seat in Patna. It pits the NDA's Paswan consolidation against the Mahagathbandhan’s Dalit outreach. The 2020 margin was under 5,000 votes.
Mahua: In Vaishali district, the main contest will be between Tej Pratap Yadav of Janshakti Janata Dal, Mukesh Kumar Raushan of RJD, Sanjay Kumar Singh of LJP, and Inderjit Pradhan of JSP. This seat is in the spotlight for the Yadav brothers family feud, with Tejashwi Yadav contesting in nearby Raghopur. It has a strong Yadav-SC-Muslim mix population which could split opposition votes, testing RJD's hold in the Vaishali heartland. RJD won the seat in 2020 with a margin of 20,000.
Mokama: In Patna district, the main contest will be between Anant Kumar Singh of JD(U), Veena Devi of RJD, and Priyadarshi Piyush of JSP. This is a violence-prone seat with EBC-Yadav dynamics. It will feature the return of ‘dreaded’ strongman Anant Singh after a stint in jail. Recently, the seat has seen clashes highlighting its dismal law & order situation. JD(U) faces anti-incumbency here after a narrow win in 2020.
Alinagar: In Darbhanga district, the main contest is between Maithili Thakur of the BJP, Binod Mishra of the RJD, and Biplaw Kumar Chaudhary of the JSP. This is a General category seat and one of the six Assembly segments that make up the Darbhanga parliamentary constituency. The spotlight is on 25-year-old playback singer Maithili Thakur, who is contesting her first election on a BJP ticket. In the 2020 elections, Mishri Lal Yadav of the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) secured a narrow victory.
Predictions surveys have projected a close contest between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan alliances, with the NDA inching ahead, and a splashy entry by the new-comer Jan Suraaj Party. Unemployment, corruption, anti-incumbency, outward migration, and the poor quality of public infrastructure and services are the main themes the polls are being fought on.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, the NDA formed the government after winning 125 seats.
The Bihar assembly election results are highly anticipated, as they follow the controversial special intensive revision undertaken in Bihar which had the opposition levelling allegations of ‘vote chori’ against the ruling government – alluding to collusion between the Election Commission of India and the central BJP government.
Since the ECI has begun a nationwide SIR after a ‘successful’ undertaking in Bihar, the upcoming polls will act as a litmus test for the sanctity of the electoral process in India.
(DS/RS/VS)
As first Phase 1 Polling of Bihar Assembly Election begins in 121 out of 243 seats, Prime Minster Narendra Modi has appealed to voters to vote full enthusiasm and take part in the festival of Democracy. On 6:45 am Today, he posted on X, "Today in Bihar is the first phase of the festival of democracy. My appeal to all voters of this phase in the assembly elections is that they should vote with full enthusiasm..."
RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav shared a video message at around 1 a.m. ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. He appealed to all voters — from Gen Zs voting for the first time to every common citizen — to cast their votes.
The caption of the post read, “The future destiny of Bihar will be determined by the single button you press. It is essential for you to vote in the interest of democracy, the Constitution, and humanity.”
BJP’s main contender from Lakhisarai and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, casts his vote in the first phase of the Assembly elections. Sinha expressed gratitude towards the Election Commission, stating that “voting has started peacefully.”
Two women have alleged that they were denied the right to vote in Patna during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. One of them, identified as Shreya Mehta, claimed that her name was visible on the official voters’ list at serial number 17. She added that she has a digital slip, as the printed one was not provided. She was not permitted to vote due to the absence of a printed voter slip.
RJD leader and former Chief Minister of Bihar, Rabri Devi, has arrived to cast her vote in the Bihar Assembly polls. She extended her wishes to both her sons — Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav of the Jan Shakti Janata Dal. “My best wishes to both my sons,” said Devi. She further stated, “Tej Pratap is contesting on his own. I am their mother. Good luck to both of them.”
Rabri Devi’s younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, arrived with his wife, Rajshree Yadav, at a polling station in Patna to cast their votes. “A new government will be formed on November 14,” said Yadav. After casting his vote, he showed his inked finger and said, "Badlaav kijiye, Naya Bihar banaiye, Nayi Sarkaar banaiye (Bring change, build a new Bihar, form a new government)".
Home Minister Amit Shah took to X to urge all the people of Bihar to vote today. He addressed the voters of Bihar, calling them “brothers and sisters, especially the youth,” and encouraged them to vote in record numbers in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections.
He said, “Each and every one of your votes will pave the way to prevent the return of jungle raj in Bihar.” He further wrote in his X post, emphasizing the value of each vote, and asked the people to teach a lesson to those “who toy with the country's security by providing protection to infiltrators and Naxalites.”
Former Union Minister of Railways and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav arrived at a polling booth in Patna to exercise his right to vote. He told the media, “Badlaav hoga (Change will happen)" after casting his vote.
As the first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls entered its third hour, the overall voter turnout in Bihar stood at 13.13%. As of 9 a.m. on November 6, 2025, Saharsa district recorded the highest turnout at 15.27%. Vaishali district was in second place with a total voter turnout of 14.30%, while Siwan recorded 13.35%.
The state capital, Patna, recorded the lowest turnout, with 11.22% of voters casting their ballots by 9 a.m.
As the Bihar Assembly polls pick up pace, Patna recorded the lowest voter turnout of 11.22% by 9 a.m. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote in Patna. While exiting, he showed his inked finger after voting in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls.
The national president of Jan Shakti Dal, Tej Pratap Yadav, cast his vote in Patna. He urged all the people of Bihar that they “must cast their vote.” He told reporters, “Every vote is important. The blessings of parents hold a special place, and the blessings of the public have their own importance.”
Members of the Mahadalit community orchestrated a boycott of voting in Parev village of the Maner Assembly constituency in Bihar. They held a banner that read, “No Road, No Vote.” The Mahadalit community emphasized their ongoing demand for basic infrastructure.
Addressing the first phase of voting in Bihar, Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to urge voters to exercise their constitutional right in the largest possible numbers. “Every section of society — Dalits, Mahadalits, tribals, backward classes, extremely backward classes, economically weaker sections, minorities, all — should receive equal rights,” wrote Kharge.
RJD has made fresh allegations that electricity was deliberately cut off at Mahagathbandhan poll booths. They stated this claim in an X post, asserting that the sole intention was to slow down voting. Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer quickly responded on X, stating that voting is taking place smoothly at all polling stations in Bihar. Bihar's CEO further wrote, “There is no basis for such misleading propaganda.”
In the first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls, as of 11 a.m., the overall voter turnout stands at 27.65%. The highest turnout was recorded in Begusarai at 30.37%. By 9 a.m., Patna had recorded the lowest voter turnout of 11.22%, which has now risen to 23.71%, still reportedly the lowest in the state capital. Raghopur recorded a voter turnout of 28.79%, followed by Alinagar with 24.96%. Voting commenced at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m.
PM Modi addressed a public rally in Araria during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. He stated that the votes cast by their grandparents once turned Bihar into a ‘land of social justice’. During the rally, he alleged that the advent of the 1990s ultimately brought the ‘Jungle Raj’ era under the RJD. “The report card of development that took place in Bihar during the Jungle Raj era is zero“, said Modi.
President of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Chirag Paswan, cast his vote at a polling booth in Khagaria. In his statement, he said, “I have fulfilled my responsibility, and I would like every person to do the same to elect a government of their choice,” said Paswan.
The LJP leader targeted the Mahagathbandhan, calling their ‘vote chori’ claims mere excuses. He remarked, “If the Mahagathbandhan had put as much effort into connecting with the public as they did into finding excuses, they wouldn’t have needed these excuses. The Mahagathbandhan is losing the election. They make an issue of everything; Rahul ji keeps holding press conferences every day. If so much wrong is happening, why don’t they go to court?”
Addressing an election rally at Motihari, in Govindganj district of Bihar, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the NDA government for making big promises on development and growth but failing to deliver. She alleged that 27 bridges collapsed in the state in the past three years.
"Today, every BJP leader has forgot about people... they are looting, threatening people in villages, in cities, they have become mafia," she said.
In a post on X, the RJD had alleged that police personnel are assaulting voters in Mohiuddinagar constituency. The party uploaded a video showing officers harassing, threatening, and manhandling individuals. The allegations were centred on booths 106, 107, and 108.
In the first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls, as of 1pm, the overall voter turnout stands at 42.31%. The highest turnout was recorded in Gopalganj at 46.73%. Turnout in Patna stands at 37.72%, still reportedly the lowest in the state. The second highest turnout was recorded at Lakhisarai, which stood at 46.37%, followed by Begusarai with 46.02%. Voting commenced at 7am and will continue until 6pm.
Vijay Kumar Sinha, deputy CM and BJP candidate from Lakhisarai, was attacked when unknown assailants ambushed his convoy. Sinha alleged that the attackers were linked to the RJD. He said that the incident took place near booths 404 and 405 in Khoriari village.
Sinha went on to accuse the assailants of preventing his polling agent from casting his vote. Later on, accounts of stone, slipper, and cow dung pelting also emerged. The police are investigating the incident.
Taking cognizance of the incident, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has directed the DGP to take immediate action.
RJD, in an X post, alleged that Vaishali district administration was ‘depriving hundreds of voters’ of their democratic right by blocking vehicles from reaching polling stations. The party said that police officials had “systematically stopped the operation of vehicles heading to Raghoopur via the 6-lane bridge and boats from Kaccha Dargah” even after the electors produced their EPIC cards.
Lalu Prasad Yadav posted a photo on X with him, his wife, Rabri Devi, and son, Tejashwi Yadav, showing off their voting ink. The photo was captioned: “A roti on the tawa should be flipped else it will burn. 20 years is too long! Now, for the youth government and the new Bihar, a Tejashwi government is extremely necessary.”
Bihar Congress, in a post on X, alleged that faulty EVMs had been distributed to 10 districts, adding that “the vote thieves have started their conspiracy.” The post featured a video with voters repeatedly shouting “Modi Vote Chor”.
The Chief Election Officer of Bihar replied to the post by dismissing the allegations, saying that “voting is proceeding smoothly in all assembly constituencies in Phase 1.”
In order to reach polling stations in Bihar’s Danapur constituency, voters lined up with luggage and cycles to board a boat. A video posted on X by RJD showed hundreds to thousands of voters lining up on a river bank waiting for a ferry. They alleged that the administration was stopping the operation of boats to the booths.
“Over 10,000 voters have been left reliant on a single steamer that makes only one round per day!” the post read. “In such a situation, if any accident occurs, will the district administration take responsibility?”
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old woman in Alipur constituency was carried to a booth by her family as she was determined to vote in spite of her failing health.
Indian educator and YouTuber Khan Sir cast his vote in the Bihar Assembly Election from booth number 241 in the Kumhrar constituency.
“India is the mother of democracy, and voting is everyone’s right. This is the only moment when the poor and the rich become equal. If one does not cast their vote, it is very unfortunate. What is the benefit of living in a democracy?” he said.
“If people do not vote, others begin to question the value of democracy. And if you don’t vote today, tomorrow an ignorant person may end up ruling over you.”
In the first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls, as of 3pm, the overall voter turnout stands at 53.77%. The highest turnout was recorded in Begusarai at 59.82%. Turnout in Patna stands at 48.69%, still reportedly the lowest in the state. The second highest turnout was recorded at Muzaffarpur, which stood at 58.40%, followed by Gopalganj with 58.17%. Voting commenced at 7am and will continue until 6pm.
Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Sinha and RJD MLC Ajay Kumar Singh clashed following an alleged attack on Sinha’s convoy by RJD workers earlier in the day. Sinha, upon being informed that his supporters were being stopped from voting, confronted Singh, accusing him of influencing the voting process.
A heated argument ensued, with Singh calling Sinha a ‘criminal’ and Sinha returning fire, calling Singh a ‘failed leader’ and a ‘drunk’. Police personnel intervened in the situation.
Later, a Lakhisarai Resident accused Singh and Congress leader Sujeet Kumar of disorderly conduct, claiming that the pair was drunk and even shoved an elderly resident.
602 police personnel and 40 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed along border districts. 97 checkpoints have been set up along the 524km-long border. Seven districts are touching the border, of which four are going to polls in Phase 1 – Kushinagar, Deoria, Ballia, and Ghazipur.
The measures have been taken to curb illegal activities and maintain order. 197 illegal liquor cases and 4 narcotics cases have been registered so far.
Additionally, Janakpur district, adjoining the Nepal border, has also been closed down to prevent cross-border movement.
Speaking to NDTV, Tej Pratap Yadav, JJD candidate and brother of Tejashwi Yadav, said that he would align with whoever brings development after the election. He said that there were lots of possible outcomes of the election, but the winner should be whoever is working for the people.
In the same interview, he said that he will build an engineering college and a stadium in Mahua constituency – during the last election, the main issue was the construction of a medical college in the constituency. He called Mahua his new family.
He also declined to comment on the SIR exercise.
As per the latest data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections reached 60.13% by 5 p.m. Begusarai is leading the charts with 67.32% while Sheikhpura recorded the lowest turnout at 52.36%. The second highest turnout was recorded at Samastipur, which stood at 66.65%, followed by Medhapura with 65.74%.
EVMs were sealed at 5pm in Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and in 56 polling booths in Suryagarha Assembly. Voting commenced at 7am and will continue till 6pm in other constituencies.
The CEO of Bihar has announced a press ocnference at 7:30pm to discuss the aftermath of Phase 1 polling.
Voting in Phase 1 of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 concluded at 6pm on 6 November 2025. According to the ECI, Bihar is expected to see the highest voter turnout in the state's history.
Electors from Pratappur village in Lakhisarai district alleged that they were disallowed from voting because they were Muslims and Yadavs. The voters were supporters of RJD and accused polling officials of illegally deleting their names from voter lists. One voter added that he and his family were stopped despite providing valid documents.
The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 witnessed an approximate voter turnout of 60.25%, according to the Election Commission of India. Polling concluded smoothly across all constituencies under Phase 1. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar is scheduled to hold a press conference at 7:30 PM to provide detailed insights following the Phase 1 of polling.
Chief Election Officer of Bihar Vinod Singh Gunjiyal held a press conference at 7:30pm on 6 November 2025, giving an overview of Phase 1 polling in Bihar.
He stated that, at the time of the announcement, estimated voter turnout stood at 64.46% based on data from 41,943 out 45,314 booths. He announced that a final figure will be released later once all the data has been collected.
He added that a total 3.75 crore people voted – one of the highest turnouts in the state’s history – with women participating in large numbers. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor of JSP said separately that “Highest polling in the last 30 years indicates that change is coming to Bihar.”
The Election Commission of India issued a press release on 6 November 2025 after polling for the day concluded. Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 64.66% in Phase 1 of the 2025 Assembly Elections, the highest ever in the state’s history. Figures are as of 8:15pm, with 1,570 Presiding Officers yet to upload data to ECINet.
The notice added that the election was monitored in real-time by CEC Gyanesh Kumar and ECs Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi through live-webcasting across 100% of polling stations.