Bihar election 2025: Polling ends for 1st phase with record 64.6% voter turnout

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: People who arrived to cast their votes in Begusarai were seen enthusiastic and took selfies after casting their votes.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Rashtriya Janata Dal's candidate from Siwan's Raghunathpur constituency and son of former MP Shahabuddin, Osama Sahab, casts his booth at a polling booth in Pratapur, Siwan.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, monitors Bihar Assembly elections from ECI monitoring room.

A total of 13.13 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting in phase one.

Bihar election 2025: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote at Manju Sinha Project Girls' Higher Secondary School in Bakhtiarpur during the first phase of Bihar assembly polls.

Bihar election 2025: Vikassheel Insaan Party chief and Mahagathbandhan's deputy chief ministerial face Mukesh Sahani cast his vote along with family members at Gaura Bauram.

“I have exercised my Right to Vote. I would urge everyone to do the same," he said after casting the vote.

Bihar election 2025: The Yadav family, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Rajshree Yadav, and Tejashwi's sisters and RJD leaders Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya, posed for cameras after casting their vote in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections.

However, the ousted Yadav brother, Tej Pratap, was not seen with them.

Bihar election 2025: Two women alleged that they were not allowed to cast their votes at Veterinary College Ground polling booth in Patna, during the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls, reported news agency PTI.

“The BLO didn’t give me my voter slip, and now they’re saying it’s my fault. They told me to download it digitally, but here they’re insisting it has to be shown in person. I wasn’t provided the slip today, I don’t even know why. Now it’s getting late, so I’m leaving. I came here to vote, but this kind of chaos happens every time in Bihar," said a woman named Shreya.

Bihar election 2025: Former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav cast his vote today during the first phase of Bihar assembly polls and hinted that “change” will happen in the state.

While speaking to media, he said, “Badlaav hoga”, which loosely translates to “change will happen”.

Bihar election 2025: Actor-singer and BJP leader Pawan Singh casted his vote in Bhojpur today and said that he “voted for development”.

"I voted for development. I urge the people of Bihar to step out of your house and vote for development," he said.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: As of 9:00 am, Bihar recorded an overall voter turnout of 13.13% in the first phase of polling. Among the districts, Saharsa registered the highest turnout at 15.27%, followed by Vaishali with 14.30% and Siwan at 13.35%. The state capital Patna recorded one of the lowest early morning figures at 11.22%.

Saran and Sheikhpura reported 13.30% and 12.97% voter participation respectively, while Samastipur saw 12.86% turnout.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: As of 9:00 am, Bihar recorded an overall voter turnout of 13.13% in the first phase of polling.

Saharsa registered the highest turnout at 15.27%, while Lakhisarai reported the lowest at 7%. In the state capital, Patna, voter participation remained among the lowest, with 11.22% turnout recorded by 9 am.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Election Commission of India on Thursday described Bihar poll as "world's best election" following "purification" of electoral rolls after Special Intensive Revision with zero appeals, sources in the poll body said.

"World’s best election in Bihar. Purified electoral rolls after SIR with zero appeals. Simple but efficient Polling Stations. Proper Identification of voter. Memorable experience for electors. Even Foreign Delegates who have come to witness these historic elections are appreciating," the sources said.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Some technical glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported from some places during the first phase of Bihar assembly polls.

Faulty EVMs were reported from Darbhanga, Lakhisarai, Barh, Ara, and Agwanpur, even as the chief electoral officer, Vinod Singh Gunjial, said they were promptly rectified. “There are very few reports of faults in EVMs,” said Gunjial.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Union Minister and LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan urged people to exercise their voting rights during the first phase of Bihar assembly polls.

“I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. I would like it if Bihar witnesses record voting in the first phase today,” he said.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: On Tej Pratap Yadav contesting from Mahua on Janshakti Janta Dal ticket and not RJD's his sister and RJD leader Rohini Acharya said, "My blessings are with him. Do you not bless your siblings?"

She further said, "Unemployment is going to be eradicated in Bihar this time. People in villages who are running from pillar to post for jobs need not go outside after 8 days. They will get jobs in Bihar itself."

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Home Minister Amit Shah urged the people of Bihar to exercise their right to vote today in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls.

"Voters of Bihar, brothers and sisters, especially the youth—I urge you to vote in record numbers in the first phase of polling today.

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.

Your vote will play a crucial role in restoring Bihar's pride, along with providing modern education to every resident of the state, welfare for the poor, and employment opportunities for the youth," he wrote on X.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: The first phase of voting, that kickstarted at 7 am on Thursday, is witnessing some key battles on including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s Tejashwi Yadav and deputy chief ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.

Here is a list of key contestants in fray in Phase 1 of Bihar voting-

Tejashwi Yadav

Samrat Chaudhary

Mangal Pandey

Maithili Thakur

Tej Pratap Yadav

Click here to read more about them.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Former Bihar chief minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi wished both her sons luck as she arrived to vote.

"My best wishes to both my sons. Tej Pratap is contesting on his own. I am their mother. Good luck to both of them…I appeal to the people of Bihar to step out and vote and don't forget your right to vote..." she said.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Singer-actor and RJD candidate from Chapra, Khesari Lal Yadav cast his vote at a polling booth in Saran.

“People commenting on me has nothing do to with Bihar's development. I have not come here to fight any individual, I have come here for Bihar's development, better education, stopping migration, for jobs, employment, hospital... I believe that you can't think of better development in Bihar till the time this government is removed,” he said.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, along with his wife Rajshree Yadav arrived at a polling station in Patna and casted their votes in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls.

Expressing confidence that the Grand Alliance will win, Yadav said, “A new government will be formed on November 14”.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh casted his vote today in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls at a polling booth in Patna.

“This is a festival of democracy. We must follow 'Pehle matdaan, phir jal-paan'...NDA government in the leadership of Nitish Kumar will be formed in Bihar again,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: The first-phase will witness a direct contest between the BJP and the RJD in 23 seats while 33 constituencies will witness a direct fight between Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and the RJD, while on 10 seats, the JD(U) is locked in a straight fight with the Congress.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals voters to vote with “full enthusiasm” during the phase 1 of Bihar assembly polls.

He wrote a post on X in Hindi, which loosely translates to, “Today in Bihar is the first phase of the festival of democracy. My appeal to all voters of this phase in the assembly elections is that they should vote with full enthusiasm. On this occasion, my special congratulations to all my young companions of the state who are going to cast their vote for the first time. Remember—first voting, then refreshments!”

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: The voting for phase 1 of Bihar assembly polls began at 7 am across 121 assembly constituencies in 18 districts, and will conclude at 6 pm, and in some places at5 pm.

The second phase of voting will take place on November 11 and the counting will happen on November 14.

Bihar election 2025 LIVE updates: Several key ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government, including both deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, will have their electoral fates decided in the first phase of polls. while Choudhary, who is in the poll fray after a long gap, is contesting from his home turf Tarapur, Sinha hopes to retain Lakhisarai for the fourth consecutive term.