Voting began on Thursday, Novemebr 6, in 121 of Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies, kicking off the first phase of the state elections. Early turnout reports indicate around 13% of voters had cast their ballots by 9 AM.
Prominent leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Samrat Choudhary, and Chirag Paswan, have voted. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was yet to cast his vote at the time of filing this news.
Lalu Yadav shared a family photo after voting, emphasizing the need for a “youth government” led by his son, Tejashwi. Meanwhile, Samrat Choudhary expressed confidence that the ruling NDA alliance would secure a decisive victory. Chirag Paswan called for maximum voter turnout.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to treat voting as a “festival of democracy” and reiterated his belief in an NDA win. The opposition Grand Alliance, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is focusing on anti-incumbency sentiment and promises of employment to sway voters.
The BJP, along with its allies, is campaigning aggressively, while the Congress has struggled to maintain momentum in the race. Political strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is also contesting all seats, adding an unpredictable element to the elections.
Key issues for voters include jobs, healthcare, education, and corruption. Tejashwi Yadav has promised 1.3 crore jobs, while the NDA has pledged 1 crore jobs and women’s empowerment initiatives.
Phase 1 primarily covers central Bihar, where the previous election saw the Grand Alliance winning 63 seats and the NDA 55. The results of today’s voting will be closely watched as a bellwether for the overall election outcome.
