Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the beginning of the first phase of Bihar’s Assembly elections as the “festival of democracy”, urging citizens, especially young voters casting their ballots for the first time, to participate with enthusiasm.
“Today in Bihar is the first phase of the festival of democracy. My appeal to all voters is to vote with full enthusiasm. My special congratulations to all my young companions of the state who are going to cast their vote for the first time," said the Prime Minister taking to social media platform X.
The first phase of polling covers 121 constituencies across 18 districts, marking the start of a high-stakes electoral battle that will decide the fate of 243 Assembly seats. More than 7.4 crore voters, including around 14 lakh first-time voters, are eligible to vote in the two-phase election. The second phase will be held on 11 November, with counting scheduled for 14 November.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) faces a determined challenge from the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan, while political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party makes its electoral debut, adding a new dimension to the contest. A total of 1,314 candidates are in the fray in this opening round.
Several key contests mark the first phase of Bihar’s Assembly elections. In Vaishali’s Raghopur, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav seeks a third consecutive win against BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav, while his brother Tej Pratap Yadav, expelled from the RJD, is contesting from Mahua on a JJD ticket against the party’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan. Folk singer Maithili Thakur makes her electoral debut in Darbhanga’s Alinagar on a BJP ticket, facing RJD’s Binod Mishra and Jan Suraaj’s Biplab Chaudhary. Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha are contesting from Tarapur and Lakhisarai respectively, while strongman Anant Singh returns to Mokama on a JD(U) ticket. Film star Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) is in the fray from Chhapra, Osama Shahab, son of the late Shahabuddin, contests from Siwan’s Raghunathpur, and Patna Sahib sees BJP’s newcomer Ratnesh Kushwaha face Congress’s Shashant Shekhar.
Polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m., though timings in several areas, including Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and parts of Suryagarha, will be shortened to 5 p.m. due to security concerns. Results will be declared on November 14.
