Bihar Election Phase 1 Voting LIVE: 53.77% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 3 PM; Deputy CM Vijay Sinha Attacked

Educator Khan Sir cast his vote at booth number 241 in the Kumhrar constituency.

On being asked if he will emerge victorious in Mahua, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav said, “Why wouldn’t people bless us? We’ve worked here, so of course, they’ll bless us.” When asked about reports of his meeting with his mother and former CM Rabri Devi, the JJD leader said, “Who’s spreading these false rumours that I met her? Ever since I left home, I have neither met my mother nor my father (Lalu Prasad Yadav).”

Responding to a question on his party’s candidates and their prospects, Tej Pratap said, “Our party is already established, and once we win these elections, we’ll be firmly rooted. Look, we’re not the kind to do bad work. We’ll do good work, and people will appreciate it.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Bhagalpur, said that while the NDA government is busy promoting Bihar’s heritage to the world, Congress and RJD are insulting faith.

“There is another sector full of opportunities for the youth of Bihar, on which we are focusing heavily. This sector is tourism, pilgrimage, and heritage tourism… Our boatmen and our youth should get more earning opportunities from the Ganges. This will only be possible through increased tourism and transportation. The river waterway built on the Ganges will greatly benefit Bhagalpur. On one hand, the NDA government is busy promoting Bihar’s heritage to the world, while on the other hand, the Congress and RJD are insulting our faith,” he said.

Speaking to media, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said,”I am here at the village. The crowd is coming closer. Send Special Force here. I will sit here in protest. The SP is so weak and a coward. They are not letting the Deputy CM go in. They have hurled stones and cow dung.”

“These are RJD goons. Look at their hooliganism even when they have not come to power…They threatened my polling agent and turned him away at 6.30 am itself. They are not letting voters come out,” he added.

RJD supporters surrounded Deputy CM and BJP candidate from the Lakhisarai constituency, Vijay Kumar Sinha’s car, hurled slippers, and chanted “Murdabad,” forbidding him from going ahead. Police personnel present at the spot.

Locals of the Danapur Diara used boats to reach the polling stations and cast their votes for the first phase of the Bihar elections. Watch here:

Begusarai – 46.02%

Bhojpur – 41.15%

Buxar – 41.10%

Darbhanga – 39.35%

Gopalganj – 46.73%

Khagaria – 42.94%

Lakhisarai – 46.37%

Madhepura – 44.16%

Munger – 41.47%

Muzaffarpur – 45.41%

Nalanda – 41.87%

Patna – 37.72%

Saharsa – 44.20%

Samastipur – 43.03%

Saran – 43.06%

Sheikhpura – 41.23%

Siwan – 41.20%

Vaishali – 42.60%

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a rally in Bihar’s Sitamarhi on Thursday and said, “Today I have come among you to ask who are those people who created an identity crisis for the youth of Bihar? Who are those people who tarnished Bihar’s identity?”

“Let Bihar have the youth who have their own intelligence and their own talent. Wherever Bihar’s youth went in the world, they benefited society with their intelligence, intellect, talent, and identity. But the RJD and Congress, who created an identity crisis for Bihar, are again trying to create a deception. We are sure that Congress and RJD will not get a chance anymore,” he added.

Bihar Assembly speaker Nand Kishore Yadav cast his vote at a polling booth in the Patna Sahib Assembly Constituency.

PM Modi said in Araria,”A few days ago, I exposed the truth behind the ongoing feud between Congress and RJD. After this truth came out, the feud between them has intensified even more. Just now, we saw that Congress has now fielded the candidate for the Deputy CM position against RJD on the front lines. He is giving interviews to the media, and in them, he is exposing the truth about RJD’s jungle raj. He is saying that in the jungle raj, Dalits, Mahadalits, and Extremely Backward Classes faced the most oppression. This is just the beginning; wait for the election results to come, these Congress and RJD people are going to tear each other’s hair out.”

JDU leader Ashok Chaudhary said, “I appeal to the people to remember that this is the same Bihar that ruled from Afghanistan to Bangladesh. Bihar made India a golden sparrow during the Maurya period… We have a rich history and culture. To regain that, we have to vote for development by rising above caste politics…”

On Lalu Yadav’s tweet, he said, “Jo Roti jal jati hai, usko phenk diya jata hai…”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp dig at Congress and RJD in Araria and said,”A very major challenge stands before these efforts of ours. That challenge is of the infiltrators. The NDA government is engaged with complete honesty in identifying each and every infiltrator and deporting them from the country.”

He added,” But these RJD and Congress people are busy protecting the infiltrators. They spread all sorts of lies to save these infiltrators, and take out political tours to mislead the people.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Araria, assuring the youth that their aspirations are his government’s commitment.

“Your dreams are my pledge,” the Prime Minister said, urging young voters.

Addressing the rally in Bihar, PM Modi said,”Today, I am telling you about the power of your vote. Your grandparents, maternal grandparents’ one vote had made Bihar the land of social justice. But then, the 90s decade came, and RJD’s jungle raj attacked Bihar. Jungle Raj means – pistol, cruelty, corruption and misgovernance. These became the identity of jungle raj, and this became Bihar’s misfortune. Your parents’ dreams were crushed.”

Amid the ongoing voting, RJD alleged that the electricity is being cut off intermittently at the strong booths of the Mahagathbandhan with the intention of slowing down the voting.

“Slow voting is being deliberately caused. Please, the Election Commission, take immediate cognizance of such rigging with “malicious intent” and “malafide intentions” and take prompt action,” it added in a post on X.

Responding to allegations, Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar, said,”This allegation is completely baseless and misleading. Voting is taking place smoothly at all polling stations in Bihar. The Election Commission of India is following all standard protocols to ensure that the voting process is fair, transparent, and uninterrupted. There is no basis for such misleading propaganda.”

RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, expressed confidence in her party’s victory, saying the people of Bihar are ready to back Tejashwi Yadav in the upcoming polls.

“This time, the people of Bihar are going to choose their brother Tejashwi, the one who has provided employment. This time, all our unemployed brothers will get jobs, and those brothers who are struggling and wandering outside the state will also get relief,” she said.

Patna DGP Vinay Kumar said that the voting process is being conducted peacefully across the state.

“Paramilitary forces are deployed at all locations, with horse and sector patrolling in place. There have been no reports of any unrest. Voting has been going on for nearly four hours and is proceeding smoothly. At my polling centre in Cooperative Colony 432, I have also cast my vote,” he said.

The Chief Electoral Office, Bihar has dismissed allegations regarding irregularities in the polling process, calling them completely unfounded.

In a post on X, the office stated, “These allegations are completely baseless and misleading. Voting is taking place smoothly at all polling stations across Bihar. The Election Commission of India is following all standard protocols to ensure the process remains fair, transparent, and uninterrupted. There is no basis for such misleading propaganda.”

In a post on X, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged voters to exercise their rights.

“In a democracy, voting is not only our right but also our duty.
Today, voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is taking place – I urge all voters to definitely exercise their right to vote. Cast your vote and inspire others to do the same.
First vote, then refreshment!,” he said in the post in Hindi.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, is monitoring Bihar Assembly elections from ECI monitoring room. A total of 13.13 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting in phase one

Jan Shakti Janata Dal’s national president and candidate from Mahua assembly constituency, Tej Pratap Yadav, after casting vote said,” The people of Bihar must cast their vote. Every vote is important…The blessings of parents hold a special place, and the blessings of the public have their own importance…”

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar showed his inked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections.

After casting his vote, actor-singer and BJP leader Pawan Singh said, “I voted for development. I urge the people of Bihar to step out of your house and vote for development.”