Bihar Election 2025 Phase 1 Live Updates: Voting ends, 60.13% voter turnout recorded till 5pm

CPI General Secretary D. Raja says he is hopeful that people in favor of the Mahagathbandhan to defeat the BJP-JDU-RSS alliance.

“A new government will be formed under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav,” he said.

RJD leader Rohini Acharya casts vote. On question of his brother and Janshakti Janta Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav contesting from Mahua, she said, “My blessings are with him. Do you not bless your siblings?”

“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,” she added.

PM Narendra Modi shares another X post on Bihar elections, says “enthusiasm” indicates that “NDA will form government” again.

“The grand festival of democracy in Bihar is witnessing an amazing enthusiasm among the people, which indicates that the NDA is going to get an unprecedented majority in the assembly elections,” he said.

The PM added that he will be addressing two public meetings in the state today – one in Forbesganj, Araria around 11:30 AM and another in Bhagalpur around 1:30 PM.

RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav casts vote at Veterinary College Ground polling booth.

He said there will be a change in Bihar this time. “Badlaav hoga,” he told reporters.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appeals people to vote during Bihar election phase 1.

In a post on X, he said, “Voters of Bihar, 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.”

He called on the voters to “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 added.

After casting his vote, RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s CM face Tejashwi Yadav appealed to appeal to the people of Bihar to go to the polling centre and cast vote “considering present and future… “

“We are going to win,” he added.

Former Bihar CM and RJD leader Rabri Devi arrives to cast vote, says, “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 added.

Bhojpuri singer-actor and RJD candidate from Chapra Assembly Constituency, Khesari Lal Yadav cast his vote at a polling station in Rasulpur.

Bihar election phase 1 voting: “Badlaav kijiye, naya Bihar banaiye, nayi sarkaar banaiye” says RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s CM face Tejashwi Yadav after he cast his vote and shows his inked finger.

Two women in Patna have claimed they were not allowed to cast their votes for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

“The BLO did not give us the slip, and we were asked to download it digitally. My name is on the voters’ list. Now, I have been told to bring the slip, or else I will not be allowed to vote. I have my voter ID card as well. My name is also on the list here; the serial number is 17. We have been waiting here since 6:30 AM. Now, we are going back, we will not cast our vote,” Shreya Mehta told ANI.

“Definitely NDA will win the elections. I appeal to voters to cast their vote. They can take their grievances, if any, to the returning officer or the ECI,” Arjun Ram Meghwal told ANI sidelines of the Bahrain International Commercial Court event.

Mokama constituency has been in the headlines after the murder of Dularchand Yadav. Known for clashes between strongmen or ‘bahubalis’, Mokama will witness a contest between JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh, who has been arrested in the murder case, and Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh.

Early morning visuals shared by news agency ANI showed the RJD candidate, and her husband and former MP Surajbhan Singh offering prayers at a temple in Mokama.

“Today is the first phase of the festival of democracy in Bihar. My appeal to all voters in this phase is that they should vote with full enthusiasm. On this occasion, my special congratulations to all young voters of the state who are going to cast their vote for the first time,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X.

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has now begun. Polling commenced across 121 constituencies at 7:00 am on Thursday. The voting booths will remain open till at 6 pm in most areas.

Polling time has been curtailed to 5:00 pm in Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and in 56 polling booths of the Suryagarha Assembly segment due to security considerations.

Mock polling was undertaken at booth number 287 in Bakhtiyarpur constituency early on Thursday morning. The polling station has been set up at Manju Sinha Pariyojna Balika Ucch Madhyamik Vidyalayay. Officials said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be voting here.

“Arrangements are up to date. There is nothing lacking here. This is the festival of democracy. This is a model polling station with three booths. CM and his son will vote here, at 287…There are 891 voters in this booth,” ANI quoted polling officer Raj Kumar Mishra as saying.

The Raghopur battle is a personal one. Decades of RJD strongholds have to be defended, and up against incumbent Tejashwi Yadav is BJP’s Satish Kumar. Lalu Prasad Yadav won the seat in 1995 and 2000. After him, his wife Rabri Devi emerged victorious from the constituency. And the seat has been with Tejashwi Yadav since 2015. 

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday that the BJP was attempting to “steal” the Bihar elections, calling vote theft “an attack on the Constitution.” Hours before the first phase of the Bihar polls, Gandhi had alleged “voter fraud” in the 2024 Haryana assembly elections, claiming that one in eight voters in Haryana were fake.

The political fortunes of several prominent leaders will be tested on Thursday.

This includes Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha — both contesting on BJP tickets. The political fortunes of 16 ministers of the state government will also be decided in this phase.

The Chief Ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, is contesting for the third time from the Raghopur Assembly constituency.

Polling will begin at 7 am for 121 constituencies spread across 18 districts of Bihar. 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 first phase of polls will decide electoral fate of several senior leaders including RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey and JD(U)’s Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Tej Pratap Yadav is also in the fray in the first phase.