Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Phase 1 Begins: Over 3.75 Crore Voters Cast Ballots Amid Heavy Security
The keenly awaited Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 began today as the first of ballots cast for one of India's most-watched political faceoffs.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 6: Bihar, regarded as a barometer for political currents in the country, is poised to hold a two-phase election to determine who leads a state steeped in history and political prowess.
High Turnout in Begusarai
The first phase of polling for the Bihar Assembly elections began on Thursday morning (November 6, 2025) with more than 3.75 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise in 121 of the State’s 243 constituencies. Some 45,341 polling stations began receiving voters at 7 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m.
Voting percentage was recorded at 25.11% per cent till 11 am and the maximum turnout was in Begusarai district (30.37%), according to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer. The lowest turnout was witnessed in Patna district with 23.71%.
Bhimbandh Votes After Two Decades
After two decades, people of Maoist-affected Bhimbandh area in Munger district went to cast their vote on Thursday (November 6) when first phase election was held for the State Assembly.
It was a big revival of democratic activity in a region which had seen suspension of polling after the killing of SP C Surendra Babu and seven police personnel on October 18 last year.
Voting was peaceful today in the three assembly constituencies of Munger district amidst much enthusiasm among voters at Bhimbandh. Seven polling stations were opened in the region and the poll process was conducted underway smoothly under a heavy deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Star Candidates in Fray
This phase is key for the smaller parties in both coalitions. Of these ten seats, CPI(ML) is contesting 20 where they have six sitting MLAs. As for the NDA, of the 29 seats it contested by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) is in the first phase. Of these ten seats, NDA has only one.
It involves multiple top leaders, including the Opposition Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and more than a dozen BJP and JD(U) Ministers in Nitish Kumar government, among them Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. Superstar Bhojpuri singers Maithili Thakur (BJP-Aliganj), Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD-Chhapra) and Ritesh Pandey (Jan Suraaj Party -Kargahar) are also in the fight during first phase.
Next Phase on November 11
On September 30, 2025, the Election Commission had announced final electoral rolls for the State containing around 7.42 crore voters with special intensive revision (SIR) concluded.
Polls will close at 6 p.m., but in some constituencies voting hours have been reduced to 5 p.m. because of security concerns. The second phase of polling is on 11 November, 2025. The rest of the 122 seats will vote. Counting will be done on November 14.
