The first phase covered 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats. Among key contests were Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur, Samrat Choudhary in Tarapur, Maithili Thakur in Alinagar, and Anant Singh in Mokama. The remaining seats vote on November 11, with results on November 14.
BY PC Bureau
November 6, 2025: Bihar recorded an impressive voter turnout of 64.45 per cent (provisional till 6 pm) in the first phase of the 2025 Assembly election — a sharp 7 per cent increase over the 2020 polls.
According to the Election Commission, the final figures could touch 66–67 per cent once last-minute votes are added, marking one of the highest turnouts in recent state elections. Political observers say both the NDA and the India Bloc (Mahagathbandhan) are trying to interpret what the surge means for their fortunes.
Women and Youth Drive High Participation
Early reports suggest that women and young voters turned out in large numbers. The NDA credits this to its welfare schemes, including the ₹10,000 direct benefit transfers made to nearly two crore women before and during the campaign.
The India Bloc, on the other hand, believes the turnout reflects growing enthusiasm among youth responding to Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of employment and government jobs.
The increased participation is significant, coming after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s voter rolls — an exercise the opposition claimed was aimed at disenfranchising poor and marginalised voters. Nearly 47 lakh names were deleted, reducing the voter base from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore.
While the smaller electorate could mathematically inflate the turnout percentage, analysts note that the absolute number of voters appears to have risen sharply, indicating a genuine increase in participation rather than a statistical illusion.
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VIDEO | In a press conference, Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal sharing the data of first phase of polling, informs that the voting percentage as of now is 64.46 pc, the final figure will come in an hour, and the women voted in large numbers.
He says, “The… pic.twitter.com/qv5dpxJhXu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 6, 2025
High Turnout: A Sign of Change or Continuity?
Traditionally, high voter turnout in Bihar has been linked to anti-incumbency. In 2010, when turnout was 52.73 per cent, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), then allied with the BJP, won a sweeping mandate. In 2015, turnout rose by 4.18 points and the JD(U)-RJD alliance triumphed.
By 2020, turnout touched 57.29 per cent, up slightly from the previous cycle, and Nitish Kumar returned to power with the BJP, though his party slipped to the junior partner’s position.
READ: Stones, Slippers Hurled at Bihar Deputy CM’s Vehicle During Phase 1 Voting
The current turnout — already higher than any of those elections — could indicate a mood for change, something the opposition is banking on. Yet, experts caution that higher voting doesn’t always mean anti-incumbency.
In Chhattisgarh (2008–2013) and Madhya Pradesh (2003–2013), turnout rose sharply even as the BJP retained power in successive elections. “Turnout spikes can reflect strong mobilisation from either side,” a senior election analyst said.
Key Contests and Next Phase
Polling on Thursday covered 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats. The remaining 122 constituencies will vote on November 11, and the results will be declared on November 14.
Among the high-profile candidates in this phase was Tejashwi Yadav, contesting from Raghopur, the family stronghold that has elected either him or his parents — Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi — seven times in the past nine elections. Raghopur reported a 64.01 per cent turnout, up 4.32 points from 2020.
Other prominent contests included Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Tarapur (58.33%), singer-turned-BJP candidate Maithili Thakur in Alinagar (58.05%), and JDU’s Anant Singh in Mokama (62.16%), whose campaign was shaken by his arrest in a murder case.
In 2020, the RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats, one more than the BJP. The JD(U) finished third with 43, while the Congress, allied with the RJD, secured 28.
With a record turnout and a charged political atmosphere, Bihar’s 2025 election has set the stage for a fiercely competitive second phase — and potentially a dramatic verdict on November 14.
