Patna: The first phase of the Bihar Assembly election 2025 witnessed a record voter turnout of 64.46% on Thursday, marking the highest polling percentage in the state’s electoral history, the Election Commission said. Voting took place across 121 Assembly constituencies spread over 18 districts, with polling concluding at 6 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said that voting began at 7 a.m. and continued smoothly under heavy security arrangements. “A provisional voter turnout of 64.46% was recorded at 6 p.m. when polling closed,” he confirmed.
The remaining 122 Assembly seats of the 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls on November 11, while counting of votes will take place on November 14.
According to data from the poll body, this phase recorded the highest-ever voter participation, surpassing the 62.57% turnout in the 2000 Assembly elections and the 64.6% turnout in the 1998 Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.
In total, 3.75 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise on Thursday to decide the fate of 1,314 candidates contesting across 45,341 polling stations — out of which 36,733 were located in rural areas.
Begusarai district recorded the highest voter turnout, while Sheikhpura registered the lowest, officials said.
The Election Commission also confirmed that voting was monitored in real time, with 100% of polling stations covered through live webcasting — a first for Bihar. The monitoring was personally supervised by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
According to CEO Gunjiyal, 143 complaints were received during polling hours and resolved promptly. However, reports of poll boycott surfaced in select booths in Buxar, Fatuha, and Suryagarha.
Isolated Incidents Reported
While voting remained largely peaceful, a few incidents of violence and disruptions were reported:
- In Lakhisarai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by “RJD goons” while visiting an area where voters were allegedly being “terrorised.”
- Additional Chief Electoral Officer Amit Kumar Pandey said that a detailed report had been sought on the incident, adding that “action will be taken based on the findings.”
- In another incident from Manjhi constituency in Saran district, the convoy of CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Satyendra Yadav was attacked by unidentified persons. Police confirmed that the MLA and his companions escaped unhurt.
Despite these isolated incidents, polling officials said the first phase concluded peacefully overall, with high participation from both urban and rural voters.