By 11 a.m. on November 6, 2025, Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 27.65% as polling for the first phase gained momentum across 121 constituencies. The Election Commission said voting began smoothly at 7 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m. across 45,341 polling booths. Begusarai district led the turnout charts with 30.37%, while Patna registered the lowest at 23.71%. More than 3.75 crore voters are expected to decide the fate of several key leaders contesting today.

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Key Leaders Step Into the Battlefield as Polling Heats Up

The first phase is packed with star candidates and political heavyweights. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav is contesting from Raghopur, eyeing another big win. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has put forward his trusted ministers, including Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, from the JD(U)-BJP alliance. Bhojpuri stars Khesari Lal Yadav and Ritesh Pandey, and folk singer Maithili Thakur are also making their political debut this phase, drawing huge attention from young voters.

In the Mahagathbandhan camp, RJD and Congress are working together once again to counter the NDA’s organizational might. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is testing its popularity for the first time in a full-scale state election, adding a third front to Bihar’s traditional two-way contest.

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Tej Pratap Yadav Promises New Colleges for Mahua

Jan Shakti Janata Dal’s Tej Pratap Yadav, contesting from Mahua, urged voters to turn out in big numbers. He promised to open an engineering college in the region if elected, recalling how he had earlier helped establish a medical college. His mother, former CM Rabri Devi, wished both her sons, Tejashwi and Tej Pratap, the best for their campaigns, saying she was proud to see them shaping Bihar’s politics in their own ways.

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RJD Alleges Voting Slowdown, Election Commission Responds

A fresh controversy erupted when RJD accused the administration of deliberately slowing down the voting process in Mahagathbandhan strongholds. The party claimed power cuts were being used to disrupt polling in certain areas. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, however, quickly dismissed these charges, calling them “baseless and misleading.” He confirmed that voting was proceeding normally under full supervision and all standard election protocols were being followed.

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Smaller Parties Look to Make Their Mark

This phase is also crucial for smaller allies within both major coalitions. The CPI(ML), contesting 20 seats, is defending six of its existing constituencies. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) is contesting 10 out of its 29 allocated seats, a share that earlier caused friction within the NDA. These smaller parties may play a big role in shaping final outcomes if results turn tight.

With voting continuing till evening, the Election Commission expects turnout to rise sharply in the second half of the day as more voters come out after work hours. The political temperature in Bihar remains high, with every major party claiming confidence of victory.