Bihar goes to the polls today in the first phase of the 2025 Assembly Elections, with around 3.75 crore voters set to decide the fate of 1,314 candidates contesting across 121 constituencies. This marks the beginning of a high-stakes political battle that could reshape the future of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, which has ruled the state for nearly two decades.
After weeks of intense campaigning and political drama, polling will take place across 18 districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Sheikhpura, Nalanda, Buxar, and Bhojpur.
🗳️ Key Constituencies and High-Profile Contests
Some of the most-watched constituencies in this phase include Raghopur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Mahua, Ujairpur, Patna Sahib, Nalanda, and Buxar.
- RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is contesting from Raghopur, a traditional stronghold of the Yadav family.
- His brother Tej Pratap Yadav, who recently floated his own party, is in the fray from Mahua, making it one of the most closely watched battles.
- BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, the party’s state president, is contesting from Tarapur, while Maithili Thakur, a popular singer-turned-politician, is in the race from Alinagar.
- JD(U) heavyweight Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary are defending their constituencies as key faces of Nitish Kumar’s team.
- Mokama constituency remains under the spotlight after the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav on October 30. JD(U) candidate and strongman Anant Singh has been booked in connection with the case. His opponent, Veena Devi, wife of another ‘bahubali’-turned-politician Surajbhan Singh, is contesting on an RJD ticket.
🔥 High-Voltage Campaigning
The campaign for the first phase saw massive rallies and sharp political exchanges between the ruling NDA and the opposition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma all campaigned extensively for the NDA, emphasizing governance, infrastructure, and law-and-order achievements under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD campaigned on themes of unemployment, inflation, and alleged corruption, targeting both the BJP and JD(U).
🌾 Emergence of New Players
The election also marks the debut of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party, which is contesting all 243 seats in Bihar. Kishor, known for his previous role as a political strategist, is positioning himself as a third alternative to both the NDA and the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, promising a “people-first” approach to governance.
🧭 What’s at Stake
The first phase is widely viewed as a litmus test for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is seeking to extend his two-decade-long run in power amid shifting alliances and growing anti-incumbency.
For Tejashwi Yadav, this election could be his biggest opportunity yet to position the RJD as the primary challenger and reclaim Bihar’s political legacy once held by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Meanwhile, the BJP hopes to strengthen its independent identity in Bihar politics, even as it continues its alliance with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U).
With several heavyweight candidates and volatile constituencies in play, today’s polling phase is expected to set the tone for the rest of the Bihar Assembly elections.