Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: The first phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections commenced today at 7:00 am, covering 121 constituencies across 18 districts out of the state’s 243 seats. Around 3.75 crore voters are going to cast their ballots in this phase. Polling is scheduled to end at 6 pm, although in certain constituencies, the closing time has been shortened to 5 pm due to security considerations.
The first phase of the elections will be crucial for several senior political leaders, including RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey, and JD(U) leaders Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav is also contesting in this phase, making it a closely watched round of voting.
First phase of Bihar polls begins
According to the Election Commission, there are 10.72 lakh ‘new electors’ and 7.78 lakh voters are in the age group of 18-19 years. The total population of these constituencies, as stated by the Election Commission, is 6.60 crore.
Ahead of the voting, Central City Patna Superintendent of Police Diksha stated that all arrangements have been made for smooth and peaceful polling. “Area domination will be done, and patrolling parties will conduct raids tonight. From morning, there will be checks at the zonal and super zonal levels. Quick Response Teams have been formed. Communication channels have been established. We expect voters to vote peacefully. Women-specific and disability-friendly booths have been set up. CAPF and State Police have been deployed at polling stations. Boats have also been arranged for polling parties,” he told ANI.
Heavyweights Tejashwi, Samrat, Tej Pratap in fray
Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, is contesting from Raghopur, a seat he has held since 2015. He faces a tough contest against BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav, who had previously lost in the 2020 assembly elections, making this phase a closely watched battle.
Tej Pratap Yadav, the estranged brother of Tejashwi Yadav, who launched the Janshakti Janta Dal after leaving the RJD, has nominated Prem Kumar as his candidate from Raghopur. Meanwhile, the Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor, has fielded Chanchal Singh, a move that could significantly change the electoral dynamics in Raghopur. Tej Pratap Yadav is contesting from Mahua constituency.
The Tarapur seat in Munger district is witnessing a high-stakes contest among BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, RJD’s Arun Kumar, and Jan Suraaj Party’s Santosh Kumar Singh. Notably, JDU candidates had secured victories here in the 2010 and 2015 assembly elections, making this a closely watched battle in the current polls.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha is contesting from the Lakhisarai seat. He is facing Congress’ Amaresh Kumar and Jan Suraaj’s Suraj Kumar.
The Mokama constituency, which has been under the spotlight following the murder of Dular Chand Yadav is also going to the polls in the first phase. Known for its history of clashes between local strongmen or ‘bahubalis’, the seat is witnessing high-profile contest between JDU candidate Anant Kumar Singh, who is currently under arrest in connection with the murder, and Veena Devi, the wife of former MP Surajbhan Singh.
Patna Sahib, traditionally a BJP stronghold, sees a shift this election as Nand Kishore Yadav, the outgoing assembly Speaker, is not contesting. The battle for the seat is now between relatively new faces, with the BJP fielding Ratnesh Kumar, also known as Ratnesh Khushwaha, and the Congress nominating Shashant Shekhar.
In Alinagar, the BJP has fielded folk singer Maithili Thakur, and she is contesting against 63-year-old RJD candidate Binod Mishra. Thakur, 25, is the youngest candidate and would become the youngest MLA if elected.
122 women candidates in the fray
There are 122 women candidates in the fray in the first phase of polls. Jan Suraj has fielded 119 candidates in this phase. Within NDA, JDU is contesting 57 seats, followed by BJP on 48 and LJP (Ram Vilas) on 14. Among the Mahagathbandhan, RJD is contesting 73 seats in the first phase followed by 24 from Congress and 14 from CPI (ML).
