Bihar election 2025 Highlights: PM Modi to address public meetings in Sitamarhi and Bettiah ahead of final phase

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sitamarhi and Bettiah on Saturday to address public meetings ahead of the final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections.

In a post shared on X, PM Modi said, “My family members, who have taken the resolve of 'Developed Bihar', are going to ensure a massive majority for the NDA even in the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections.”

"Amidst this immense support, tomorrow morning around 11 am, I will seek the blessings of the people-public in the public meetings in Sitamarhi, and in the afternoon around 1 p.m. in Bettiah," he added.

Janshakti Janata Dal founder Tej Pratap Yadav and BJP MP Ravi Kishan were seen together at the Patna airport on Friday, raising eyebrows amid the assembly elections.

Approached by the waiting reporters, Yadav said, "It is just that I am meeting Ravi Kishan for the first time. Of course, he and I are on the same page when it comes to our devotion to Lord Shiva. Both of us wear the 'tika' on our foreheads."

Bihar is India's poorest state with a per capita income of just 32,227 rupees ($364) for the year ending March 2024, compared with the national average of 106,744 rupees.

A lack of jobs means a large proportion of the state’s population migrate to seek work elsewhere. The unemployment rate for people aged 15 and 29 years in Bihar was 29.62% in 2022, much higher than the national average, according to the most recently available data from the International Labor Organization. (Bloomberg)

Bihar election 2025 Live: At least 65 per cent of the 3.75 crore electors voted across 121 assembly constituencies during the polling on Thursday, marking the beginning of a closely watched, high-stakes contest that is seen as a litmus test of the ruling National Democratic Alliance's popularity under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Congress on Friday accused the NDA government in Bihar of handing out "empty rhetoric" to the people of Aurangabad and Bhabua and said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a "barrage of promises" for the development of this region nothing happened.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday unleashed a no-holds-barred attack on the family of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, claiming that his son Tejashwi Yadav's "favourite" CM is MK Stalin, whose party DMK "insults Biharis by comparing them with bidis". (PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that BJP leaders, who had exercised their franchise in Delhi, also cast votes in the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls.

"NDA will form the Govt with a thumping majority. Bumper voting is the symbol of the people of Bihar's affection, love and trust in PM Modi. It is the stamp of approval on the resolve of 'Viksit Bharat' by PM Modi and 'Viksit Bihar' by CM Nitish Kumar. Bumper voting is an indication of the NDA's victory. This is a tight slap on the face of custodians of gunda raj, jungle raj and corruption - people of Congress and RJD. People have voted for Viksit Bharat and Viksit Bihar..." ANI quoted Union Minister Nityanand Rai as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the record turnout in first phase of Bihar assembly polls was proof that people have reposed their trust in the "track record of Narendra and Nitish". (PTI)

While addressing the election rally in Bhagalpur, Lok Sabha LoP & Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "I guarantee that Haryana CM and Haryana government are stolen... This vote theft is conducted to help Ambani, Adani, and billionaires, give your land to people like Adani and Ambani, and to privatise your hospitals, colleges, and universities.... Nitish Kumar, PM Modi and HM Amit Shah have made Bihar the labourer of India..."

More than half of the registered unrecognised political parties associated with Bihar have failed to make their mandatory financial disclosures public for 2023-24, according to poll rights body the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). (PTI)

"Between 1990 and 2005, more than 60 incidents of caste massacres took place in Bihar. More than 30,000 abductions took place... These people who have come back today with lanterns, they are not lanterns, they were certificates of robbery for them..." CM Yogi Adityanath said, according to ANI.

"NDA will form the Govt with a thumping majority. Bumper voting is the symbol of the people of Bihar's affection, love and trust in PM Modi. It is the stamp of approval on the resolve of 'Viksit Bharat' by PM Modi and 'Viksit Bihar' by CM Nitish Kumar. Bumper voting is an indication of the NDA's victory. This is a tight slap on the face of custodians of gunda raj, jungle raj and corruption - people of Congress and RJD. People have voted for Viksit Bharat and Viksit Bihar..." ANI quoted Union Minister Nityanand Rai as saying.

RJD candidate from Patna’s Maner assembly seat, Bhai Virendra, has been booked for allegedly threatening security personnel, engaged in the polling duty, with dire consequences, police said on Friday.

The RJD leader was accused of misbehaving with a security personnel when he was assisting an elderly woman to find her polling booth on Thursday, Danapur-2 SDPO Amrendra Kumar Jha said.

As per PTI, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "The BJP people have always been saying that whenever there is high polling, it is an anti-incumbency vote. All their top leaders have said this. So why are they reversing their stand today? The truth is that in Bihar, a public uprising has taken place against the NDA government. The way the youth has come out because of unemployment and their internal conflicts, it is certain that the Mahagathbandhan government is going to win with a strong majority."

As per PTI, Chirag Paswan stated, "The way PM Modi has dedicated himself for Bihar... People have faith in double-engine government. I believe the reason behind the boost in this voter turnout is people's belief... We were taking feedbacks from our party workers till late night and we have received very positive feedback...Tejashwi Yadav had to say something to boost the confidence of his party workers."

"Highest voting took place here. This is for the return of NDA Govt to power, look at the past track record of Bihar. This has always been the trend that when the voting percentage is high, Government is formed once again. Opposition was saying that slow polling is taking place. But look at the polling percentage...The feedback we have received makes it clear that the results will be even better than the 2010's. We are confident that the voting was for the return of Nitish Kumar to power..." ANI quoted JD(U) MP and national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha as saying.

Bihar election 2025 Live: At least 65 per cent of the 3.75 crore electors voted across 121 assembly constituencies during the polling on Thursday, marking the beginning of a closely watched, high-stakes contest that is seen as a litmus test of the ruling National Democratic Alliance's popularity under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Political parties were quick to react to the high voter turnout. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj claimed it as a sign of their impending victory.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial candidate, said, "I salute the people of Bihar for the bumper voting. I can now confidently say you have affirmed the victory of 'Mahagathbandhan'.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold two public meetings today – one in Aurangabad and the other in Bhabhua. He will address the public of Aurangabad at 1:45 pm and Bhabhua at 3:30 pm.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday alleged that some BJP leaders who voted in Delhi Assembly elections held in February also went to cast their votes in Bihar polls, a charge vehemently denied by the saffron party.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Bihar recording highest-ever voter turnout in the first phase of assembly polls is victory of democracy, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said on Thursday, lauding the "transparent and dedicated" election machinery.

"Bihar has shown the way to the nation. SIR with Zero Appeals and highest voter turnout since 1951. Purest electoral rolls and enthusiastic participation of electors. Transparent and dedicated election machinery. Democracy wins. It has been an amazing journey for ECI," the CEC said.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Claiming that there were reports from Bihar strengthening the evidence of "vote chori", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the main culprits in this "murder of democracy" are the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners who are committing the "biggest treachery against the Constitution".

Bihar election 2025 Live: The final voter turnout in the first phase on Thursday (November 6) was recorded at 64.66%, the ‘highest-ever’ figure since 1951, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Over 3.75 crore voters came out in large numbers to cast their ballot in 121 Assembly constituencies across 18 districts. The voting was peaceful, the ECI said.

Bihar election 2025 Live: The second and the last phase of the Bihar Assembly election will be held on 11 November 11 for 122 seats. The campaigning by several star campaigners and senior party leaders from both the NDA and the Mahagatbandhan will pick from today. The last day of campaigning is 9 November, Sunday.

Bihar election 2025 Live: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial candidate, said, "I salute the people of Bihar for the bumper voting. I can now confidently say you have affirmed the victory of 'Mahagathbandhan'."

Bihar election 2025 Live: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has said the high voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections indicates that "change is coming to Bihar".

"The 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)," Kishor told news agency ANI.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to address rallies in Bihar today. Kharge will address a rally in Chenari and Gaya town, the Congress party said.

Bihar election 2025 Live: The highest turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in Bihar was recorded at 64.6% in 1998. The highest for an assembly polls, at 62.57% in 2000. The first phase of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections concluded peacefully in a festive mood today, with the highest voter turnout ever recorded in Bihar's history, at 64.66%, the poll panel said on Thursday.

Bihar election 2025 Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address rallies in Aurangabad and Bhabhua today. Among Mahagathbandhan leaders, Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi will also campaign in Bihar today.