Bihar Votes Today: 121 Seats, 3.75 Crore Voters In First Phase Of Assembly Elections

Representative photo: A voter shows her inked finger after casting her vote at a polling station

Bihar went to the polls on Friday, November 6, as the first phase of the state Assembly elections got underway across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Nearly 3.75 crore voters are deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates in one of the most closely watched state elections in recent years.

Polling began at 7 am and was reported peaceful across all 121 constituencies, with the Election Commission recording a voter turnout of 13.1 per cent by 9 am. The first phase covers almost half of the 243-member Assembly, and its outcome could set the tone for the rest of the contest. Campaigning for this phase ended on the evening of November 3, and a silence period was in force in the constituencies going to the polls.

What Is At Stake In Phase One

The 121 seats voting on Friday stretch across 18 districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Nalanda, Bhojpur and Buxar. Together, they account for almost half the Assembly, which is why both alliances have poured their biggest leaders into this round.

The contest is, at its core, between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal. The NDA is seeking another term on its record in government, while the opposition is pitching jobs, change and a fresh start for the state.

It is also the first big test after the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, carried out by the Election Commission ahead of the polls. The final roll puts the state's total electorate at 7.42 crore voters, with 3,75,13,302 electors in this phase alone — including 1,98,35,325 men, 1,76,77,219 women and 758 third-gender voters.

The Big Names On The Ballot

Several heavyweights are in the fray in this phase. Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate, is contesting from Raghopur, the seat he has held since 2015. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP is fighting from Tarapur, where he faces the RJD and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party.

Other prominent candidates include BJP leader Mangal Pandey and senior JD(U) leaders Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. In this phase, the JD(U) is contesting 57 seats and the BJP 48, while the RJD leads the opposition alliance's challenge. Jan Suraaj, the new party floated by poll strategist Prashant Kishor, is also testing its strength, and its performance will be watched closely. Of the 1,314 candidates, 1,192 are men and 122 are women.

Security And Arrangements At 45,341 Booths

The Election Commission has set up 45,341 polling stations for this phase, including 36,733 in rural areas and 8,608 in urban areas. Polling will run from 7 am to 6 pm, though voting will close an hour earlier, at 5 pm, at some sensitive booths in areas such as Munger, Tarapur and Jamalpur.

A three-tier security arrangement is in place, and webcasting covers polling stations to keep the process transparent. Hundreds of observers have been deployed, and officials say extensive preparations have been made to ensure polling remains peaceful, free and fair. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commissioners are closely monitoring polling booths through the day.

What Happens Next

After Friday, attention shifts to the second phase on November 11, when the remaining 122 seats vote. Votes will be counted on November 14, and the process is scheduled to conclude by November 16. The term of the current Assembly ends on November 22.

With the last Assembly election in 2020 decided by a razor-thin margin, every seat matters this time, and even a small swing in the first phase could shape the final result.

Conclusion

Friday's vote is the first big moment of the Bihar elections, and the turnout in these 121 seats will say a lot about the mood of the state. For voters, the message is simple: check your polling booth, carry your voter ID, and make your voice heard. Will Bihar vote for continuity or change this time? Tell us what you think in the comments below.