Polling got underway on Thursday at 7 a.m. in Bihar’s first phase of the 2025 assembly elections, covering 121 seats across 18 districts. The fate of key political figures—including Tejashwi Yadav (in Raghopur), two deputy chief ministers, and several ministers from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition Mahagathbandhan—will be determined in this phase.

With over 3.75 crore eligible voters, including more than 10.72 lakh first-time voters aged 18–19, the election machinery deployed 45,341 polling booths (around 36,733 in rural areas) to ensure broad coverage. The spotlight today falls on constituencies with heavy stakes: the BJP and JD(U) contesting against the RJD-Congress coalition and newcomer Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the polling day as a “festival of democracy,” urging every voter—especially first-timers—to cast their ballot before joining any celebrations. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Election has warned of strict monitoring and emphasised the importance of a fair process. Whether the electorate favours continuity or change remains to be seen, but all eyes are on Bihar’s evolving political map.