Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Highlights: Voting concludes for phase 1 with historic participation, turnout hits 64.66%

The second and the last phase will be held on November 11. The counting will take place on November 14.

Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjyal said that polling was boycotted in certain booths in Buxar, Fatuha and Suryagarha, according to PTI.

Before the 2025 Assembly Elections, Bihar saw the highest voter turnout in 1998 – 64.6 for Lok Sabha polls that year, followed by 62.57% for 2000 Assembly elections.
Year 1951-52 saw the lowest voter turnout — 40.35% for Lok Sabha Elections, and 42.6% for Assembly Elections.

Polling officials were seen waiting in queues to submit EVMs after the first phase of Bihar assembly elections concluded on Thursday. The second phase of polling will be held on 11 November. Here's a glimpse

Jan Suraj Party founder Prashant Kishore told ANI: “Highest polling in the last 30 years indicates that change is coming to Bihar. A new system is going to be established on the 14th (November).”

Bihar CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal shared the data of the first phase of polling during a press conference, stating that the voting percentage as of now, stands at 64.66 %. He also said the women voted in large numbers.

As per the voter turnout list released by the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer, Begusarai recorded the highest voter turnout of 67.32% at 5pm, followed by Samastipur which recorded a turnout of 66.65%

On Thursday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary made a bold claim. While speaking to ANI, he said that “no one from the family of Lalu Prasad Yadav will win the elections.”

Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer is set to held a press conference at 7:30 pm in Patna.

As per the Election Commission, 60.13% voter turnout has been recorded till 5pm.

Dhanusha DSP Ganesh Bahadur Bam told ANI that security checks along the India-Nepal border area, which adjoins the Janakpur district, have been heigtened because of the polls. He said that complete restrictions on cross-border movement are in effect from 6 AM to 6 PM.

“From the security point of view, the SSB of India, in coordination with us, has closed the border points. The length stretches about 48 km, stretching from Inaruwa, Duhabi, Thandi to Tulsihai,” the DSP told ANI.

Minapur district recorded the highest voter turnout of 64.72 %

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is the CM face of the grand alliance, while suspense continues over the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) CM candidate. Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary said, “Nitish Kumar ji is our 'mukhiya'” Read here

Bihar Dy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha's convoy was attacked by RJD supporters on Thursday, the BJP candidate from the state's Lakhisarai Assembly constituency said. Asp per Sinha, RJD supporters surrounded his vehicle, shouted ‘Murdabad’ slogans and hurled slippers at him, preventing his convoy to move ahead.

According to the ECI, 53.77% approximate voter turnout has been recorded till 3pm in the first phase of the elections. Polling is scheduled to end at 6pm at majority of the polling booths except for 56 of them, where the time has been curtailed to 5pm

With the first phase of assembly polls in Bihar underway, locals of the Danapur Diara in the Patna district reportedly used boats to reach the polling stations and cast their votes for the first phase.

Danapur Diara is a flood-prone riverine area in the vicinity of Danapur town, located in the Patna district.

Polling will conclude at 6 pm. However, due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and in 56 polling booths of the Suryagarha Assembly segment.

Speaking about the attack on Deputy CM Vijay Singh's car in Lakhisarai, RJD candidate from Mokama, Veena Devi alleged that the Dy CM himself ‘orchestrates it’. “He gets it done to ensure that his vote share increases,” she told ANI.

Popular educator and YouTuber Khan Sir was spotted casting his vote at booth number 241 in Kumhrar constituency.

Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president and candidate from Mahua assembly constituency, Tej Pratap Yadav, visited various polling booths in the constituency as polling is underway.

Speaking to ANI, Yadav said he is fully confident about his win in the Bihar elections.

Polling will conclude at 6 pm. However, due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and in 56 polling booths of the Suryagarha Assembly segment. Here's a glimpse from Begusarai

PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Bhagalpur, said that “Congress leaders have been claiming that their party is the big one and RJD is just a small tag-along.” He stated that despite such claims, the RJD have “challenged the arrogance of their 'Namdaar.' and by putting a gun to Congress's head, they've snatched away the candidacy for the CM position.”

RJD supporters surrounded Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Lakhisarai constituency, Vijay Kumar Sinha's car on Thursday, hurling slippers, pelting stones, forbidding him from entering Khoriari village. Police personnel rushed to the spot. Here's a glimpse

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha's convoy was attacked on day of polling and stones were thrown, as per reports – with BJP blaming RJD for the same

A total of 42.31% voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm, a significant rise from the 13.13% recorded until 9 am.

“They've already surrendered at 12 pm, saying voting is slowing down. Electricity is being cut off everywhere. The Election Commission has vehemently opposed all of this. This is all baseless... Your defeat is certain. Why are you running away from the field? I urge the voters of Bihar and Patna Sahib: Get out in large numbers and vote; don't believe such misleading rhetoric. We never expected the RJD to start crying out in despair at 12 pm. This is all baseless. We condemn this...,” BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad told ANI.

As of 1 pm, 43.21% voter turnout has been recorded in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Election, the ECI said.

A total of 27.65% voter turnout was recorded till 11 am, while 13.13% voter turnout was recorded until 9 am.

After casting his vote in Begusarai, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar said, “This is the festival of democracy. Voting in the first phase of the election is being done across several districts. I appeal to all the people of Bihar to vote for their issues, for the future of their children, for jobs, food, house, education, health, roads, electricity, water and for their self-respect. The resentment against government needs to be shown a positive direction...”

In the first phase of polling today, Bihar is voting for development, said PM Modi in Araria.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The report card of development that took place in Bihar during the Jungle Raj era is zero. From 1990 to 2005, for 15 years, this Jungle Raj destroyed Bihar. In the name of running the government back then, you were simply looted. That is why I say, remember the figure zero. The number of expressways, flyovers built in the 15 years of Jungle Raj in Bihar is zero..."

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar cast his vote at a polling booth in Begusarai

“I think women voters are coming out in large numbers because they have faith in NDA and Nitish Kumar,” JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha told news agency ANI.

“My dear brothers, sisters, mothers, and youth of Bihar! Today is the day to shape your future with your own hands. Come out in large numbers and participate in the grand festival of democracy. Vote for jobs, education, health, and a bright future for Bihar. Vote to protect your democracy, constitution, and right to vote,” wrote Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on X.

“I appeal people to vote on the issue of development and help NDA form government with overwhelming majority. Samrat Choudhary is going to win with a big margin,” Shakuni Choudhary, father of Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Tarapur Samrat Choudhary told PTI.

13.13% approximate voter turnout recorded in the first phase, till 9 am, said the ECI in a periodic update.

The highest voter turnout of 15.27% was recorded in Saharsa district of the state among all districts, while Lakhisarai recorded a sluggish turnout of 7%.

As of 9 am, a voter turnout of 14.60% was recorded in Begusarai district, followed by 13.11% in Bhojpur, 13.28% in Buxar, 12.48% in Darbhanga, 13.97% in Gopalganj, 14.15% in Khagaria, 13.74% in Madhepura, 13.37% in Munger, 14.38% in Muzaffarpur, 12.45% in Nalanda, 11.22% in Patna, 12.86% in Samastipur, 13.30% in Saran, 12.97% in Sheikhpura, 13.35% in Siwan and 14.30% in Vaishali.

Asked about if he would become Chief Minister if NDA wins, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary put his weight behind incumbent CM Nitish Kumar, telling ANI, “Nitish Kumar ji is our 'mukhiya' and he will continue to be.”

“The grand festival of democracy in Bihar is witnessing an amazing enthusiasm among the people, which indicates that the NDA is going to get an unprecedented majority in the assembly elections," wrote PM Modi on X.

"In this energetic atmosphere, I am eager to receive the blessings of my family members at the public meetings in Forbesganj, Araria around 11:30 AM and in Bhagalpur around 1:30 PM,” he added.

“Voters of Bihar, brothers and sisters, especially the youth—I urge you to vote in record numbers in the first phase of polling today,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X as polling began.

“Each and every one of your votes will pave the way to prevent the return of jungle raj in Bihar, sustain good governance, and build a developed, self-reliant Bihar. Teach a lesson in this election to those who toy with the country's security by providing protection to infiltrators and Naxalites,” he added.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is contesting the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 with full force. The party has fielded 239 candidates across Bihar and is contesting the two-phase elections against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition's Mahagathbandhan, also known as the Grand Alliance.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: Folk singer Maithili Thakur is contesting on the BJP ticket from Alinagar in Darbhanga district, where polling is being held on phase 1 today. Thakur, who turned 25 just a few months ago, is one of the most talked-about candidates in the Bihar assembly elections.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: Janata Dal United's Mokama candidate Anant Kumar Singh is also testing waters in phase one polling today. Singh was held on murder charges days before the polls. Singh is up against Veena Devi of the RJD.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: The fate of key leaders from the NDA and Mahagathbandhan will be decided in the Phase 1 voting today.

Those in the fray include Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both of whom are BJP leaders. The political fortunes of 16 ministers of the state government will also be decided in this phase.

The Chief Ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, is contesting for the third time from the Raghopur Assembly constituency today.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: RJD leader and Opposition's CM face Tejashwi Yadav is contesting against BJP’s Satish Kumar from Raghopur seat, a family stronghold. Lalu Prasad Yadav won the seat in 1995 and 2000. After him, his wife Rabri Devi emerged victorious from the constituency. Tejashwi Yadav has won the seat since 2015.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: Kumar Pranay, the BJP candidate in fray from Munger is the richest candidate today with over ₹170 Crore as declared assets. Mojahid Alam of SUCI (C) from Darbhanga seat is the poorest with ₹1000 net worth.

Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Live: In the 2020 assembly polls, the RJD had won 42 of the seats voting in the first phase. The BJP secured 32 seats, while the Janata Dal (United) won 23. The Congress had won 8, the Left parties won 11. The VIP bagged four seats. Chirag Paswan's LJP (RV) won one seat in 2020 from those voting in phase 1.