High-Voltage Start to Bihar Elections: Dramatic Pre-Poll Build-Up, Three-Cornered Fight & Strong Voter Turnout Mark Phase-1
By Tajdar H. Zaidi
PATNA: Bihar witnessed a charged and unprecedented start to its 2025 Assembly elections on Thursday as 121 of the state’s 243 constituencies went to polls in the first phase.
Unlike previous election cycles, the run-up to this vote was marked by intense political theatre, heightened public interest, and even violent gang rivalries culminating in the murder of a known strongman — underlining the emotional, cultural, and political stakes in Bihar’s electoral battleground.
For many political observers, this may well be the first Bihar election where the pre-poll atmosphere rivalled the polling day itself — dramatic campaign pitches, aggressive ground mobilisation, localised muscle power flare-ups, and record-breaking voter enthusiasm created the feeling of a political festival blended with raw competitive energy.
Despite the tense and fiery build-up, election day reflected democratic vibrancy: people across age and social groups came out in heavy numbers, defying fears and narratives, determined to back their chosen party and candidate.
Voting began at 7 am and closed at 6 pm. By 5 pm, Bihar had recorded a turnout of 60.13%, according to the Election Commission. Begusarai topped with 67.32%, while Sheikhpura recorded the lowest turnout at 52.36% at that time.
Historic Multi-Cornered Battle
This election marks a decisive shift in Bihar’s political landscape. What has traditionally been a bipolar race has transformed into a triangular contest featuring:
- BJP-JD(U) led NDA
- RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan
- Prashant Kishor’s debutant Jan Suraaj Party
Prashant Kishor’s direct leap from political strategist to mass electoral challenger has brought an intriguing third force into the fray — energising young voters, unsettling traditional cadres, and raising fresh expectations of governance-driven politics.
Top Leaders in the Arena
Several heavyweight leaders and high-profile candidates are contesting in this phase, including:
- Samrat Choudhary (BJP), Deputy CM – Tarapur
- Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), CM face of Mahagathbandhan – Raghopur
- Tej Pratap Yadav (Janshakti Janata Dal) – Mahua
- Maithili Thakur (BJP) – Alinagar
- Anant Singh (JD-U) – Mokama (currently in jail in a murder case involving a Jan Suraaj supporter)
Tejashwi Yadav is defending his seat in Raghopur, facing BJP’s Satish Kumar — the same leader who defeated Rabri Devi in 2010, adding historical weight and emotional urgency to the contest.
Massive Electorate Shows Up
In the first phase:
- 3.75 crore voters were eligible to vote
- 10.72 lakh were first-time voters
- 1,314 candidates contested across 18 districts
- 45,341 polling stations operational — 36,733 in rural areas
Districts that voted included Patna, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, and others.
From farmers to first-time voters, from women and the elderly to enthusiastic youth groups marching to polling booths — the crowds suggested renewed hope, higher expectations, and stronger ownership of democracy.
A Turning Point Election
With its mix of legacy politics, youth-driven change, emotional battles, and never-seen-before voter momentum, the Bihar elections have entered a new era — one where voters are not only witnesses but the central force shaping the state’s future.
The first phase has set the tone — competitive, emotional, unpredictable, and unapologetically democratic.
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