Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Highlights: ‘BJP leaders who cast votes in Delhi also voted in first phase of Bihar polls,’ claims Rahul Gandhi at Banka rally

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday accused the Congress and RJD of tarnishing Bihar's glorious tradition and dividing the state, while alleging that the parties looted its resources during their rule.

Addressing rallies in Motihari and Bettiah, Adityanath said, "This election is between good governance and 'jungle raaj'. The same people who threw Bihar into an era of caste conflict, massacres, kidnappings, and robberies between 1990 and 2005 are now seeking votes in new packaging." "They fueled caste violence under the dim light of lanterns, sold kerosene to spread darkness, and looted homes. Congress and RJD have committed the ‘sin' of tarnishing Bihar's glorious tradition, and have divided and looted the state," he added. — PTI

In a statement on the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 Phase 1, the Election Commission of India said "No re-polls recommended after scrutiny." Check out the full statement here:

The Congress on Friday accused the Centre of changing its SHAKTI policy to ensure that a power plant project in Bihar's Bhagalpur district goes to a particular private firm close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The solar power project was converted into a thermal project, and the group has been given 1,050 acres of land at the rate of Re one per acre, chairman of the party's Media & Publicity wing, Pawan Khera, claimed in a press conference here. — PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday sought to pin the blame on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inordinate delay in commencement of his rally in poll-bound Bihar.

At Chenari assembly segment in Rohtas district, where he reached nearly two hours after his rally was supposed to start, the octogenarian alleged that BJP people are always coming in "our way". — PTI

The Congress on Friday accused the NDA government in Bihar of handing out "empty rhetoric" to the people of Aurangabad and Bhabua and said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a "barrage of promises" for the development of this region nothing happened.

With Modi visiting Bhabua and Aurangabad Friday, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said true to form, "he will once again try to mislead voters with empty promises" but it's essential to remind him of his old promises and speeches. — PTI

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha on Friday dismissed as "politically motivated" the allegations that he had voted in both the Delhi Assembly elections and Bihar polls.

Sinha claimed he had enrolled himself as a voter in Bihar strictly in accordance with the legal procedure and guidelines prescribed by the Election Commission.

“The opposition is unable to understand the Constitutional and EC guidelines. Anyone can get their name enrolled in the voter list by following the proper legal procedure. Earlier, my name was there in Delhi voter rolls, but later I got enrolled in Bihar. I completed all legal steps of the process as required," he said. — PTI

The Congress on Friday referred to a former Union minister's allegation of a power scam in Bihar, saying the people in the state are going to reject the NDA as they have come to know the system is being "remote controlled." KC Venugopal, in a post on X, alleged that the Adani Group received "red carpet treatment" in Bihar and asserted that the corruption would be uncovered. — PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the record turnout in first phase of Bihar assembly polls was proof that people have reposed their trust in the "track record of Narendra and Nitish".

Modi made the prediction of the victory of the NDA, led in Bihar by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president, at a rally in Aurangabad district of the poll-bound state, where he also lauded the Election Commission for successfully conducting elections across 121 constituencies where voting was held.

He cited the examples of construction of Ram temple, abrogation of Article 370 and Operation Sindoor to assert "I do what I promise". — PTI

Claiming that the opposition leaders have "no development" agenda for Bihar, Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday alleged that the RJD-Congress combine did "not do anything for the poor" during their rule in the state, except "patronising infiltrators".

Addressing a rally in Jamui, he launched a blistering attack on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, alleging that "those concerned only about the welfare of their sons and daughters cannot make Bihar developed".

"Give us a mandate for five more years, and Bihar will be counted among the developed states. It will be made free from floods. Lalu-Rabri-Rahul have no development agenda," Shah claimed.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday asserted that the high poll percentage in Bihar was indicative of "pro-incumbency vote", rejecting the opposition's claim that it was a warning bell for the ruling NDA in the state.

Pradhan, whom the BJP has named as its in charge for elections in the state, spoke to PTI video a day after 121 assembly segments, which went to polls in the first phase, registered a 64.69 per cent turnout, the highest in the history of the state.

"It is fantastic. It indicates a pro-incumbency vote. In the recent past, there have been many instances of people coming out in large numbers to vote for the incumbent. The same is happening in Bihar where the people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remains rock solid and as high as the Himalayas," said Pradhan.

Women had come out to vote in large numbers and people interviewed by the media have clearly said that they were voting for development and security, he said.

Claiming that there were reports from Bihar strengthening the evidence of "vote chori", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the main culprits in this "murder of democracy" are the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners who are committing the "biggest treachery against the Constitution".

Gandhi also alleged that many BJP leaders and workers who voted in elections in other states are also voting in Bihar.

He said those who were given the responsibility to protect the right to vote have become partners in "stealing" people's future.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "My young and Gen Z friends of India, yesterday, I demonstrated with evidence how the government in Haryana was stolen through vote chori, and the public opinion of an entire state was taken away." "A few days ago, I also conducted a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar to raise awareness about the widespread manipulation of voter lists through SIR. Today, news and videos coming from every corner of Bihar are further strengthening the evidence of vote chori," he said.

Lakhs of voters have already been removed from the voter list, and now people are being prevented from voting at polling stations, he claimed.

Claiming that the 2024 Assembly elections in Haryana had been “stolen”, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi showed Wednesday a photograph of a woman which featured 223 times on the voter list in two booths during the polls. “The EC needs to tell us how many times she voted,” he said.

The EC may not have responded to Gandhi, but sitting at her residence in Dhakola village in Ambala district, 75-year-old Charanjeet Kaur has an answer: Voted just once.

The Indian Express visited the village that suddenly finds itself in the spotlight after Gandhi’s press conference, and found that Charanjeet’s photograph does appear alongside the names of at least 255 voters in booth numbers 63 and 65 in Dhakola village, which has a total of 2,117 registered voters. But for many of the 255, this isn’t breaking news.

Read more

In what Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described as an election with the “purest electoral rolls”, the first phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly polls on Thursday witnessed the highest turnout since 1951.

According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout touched 64.66%, a jump from the 57.29% recorded in the 2020 Assembly elections, as 121 constituencies across 18 districts went to the polls.

Summing up the exercise, CEC Kumar said, “Bihar has shown the way to the nation. SIR (Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls) with zero appeals and the highest voter turnout since 1951. Purest electoral rolls and enthusiastic participation of electors. Transparent and dedicated election machinery. Democracy wins. It has been an amazing journey for ECI.”

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Bihar recorded its “highest-ever” voter turnout in the first phase of polling for the Assembly election on Thursday, with 64.66 per cent of an electorate of more than 3.75 crore turning up at polling stations to exercise their franchise.

In a statement issued here, the Election Commission (EC) said the first phase of the Bihar polls concluded peacefully, with the “highest-ever voter turnout of 64.66 per cent” recorded in the history of the state. A total of 121 constituencies in 18 districts went to polls in the first phase, with an electorate of more than 3.75 crore.

PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday claimed that the BJP would try its utmost to “steal votes” in the state elections and said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah who had imposed ‘jungle raj’ in the country.

The previous day, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition had alleged at a press conference in Delhi that the Haryana

Assembly elections, which his party lost, was “stolen” with 25 lakh fake votes cast in the state.

On Thursday, accusing the BJP of stealing elections “everywhere”, Gandhi said at a rally in Bihar’s Purnea: “We have shown the entire world that the BJP and the Election Commission have stolen the Haryana election. I am sure that they will try to steal votes in Bihar, too.”

In a press conference, ADG Kundan Krishnan informs first phase of voting was concluded peacefully barring 2-3 random incidents. He said no firing was reported, and credited the intense checking, patrolling in last one month for the peaceful election.

He says, "We came to know about 2-3 incidents. In Lakhisarai, deputy CM faced opposition from villagers, the DM, SP reached the spot immediately, the deputy CM was taken away. The second incident was reported from Saran, the sitting MLA Satyendra Yadav's vehicle was attacked. No injury has been reported. It can be said that the polling was peaceful. It was because of intense patrolling, checking in night. After the MCC came into force, the security personnel who came from outside, there was also Bihar Police, a record was made, a total of 850 illegal arms, 4,000 ammunition were recovered in a month, it was a big campaign. No firing incident was reported. Same force will be there during the second phase of polling."

Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjyal says, "The first phase of voting for the Bihar Assembly elections has been successfully completed. Voting is still ongoing in some places, and we're updating data. The current voter turnout is 64.46%. We will release the final press note in an hour after everything is updated. The participation of women voters was very good... During the voting, 165 ballot units, 169 control units, and 480 VVPATs were replaced. The final data will be available in the press release. And this time, we had to replace only 1.21 per cent of the ballot units in the first phase, while in the 2020 Assembly elections, only 1.87 per cent of the EVMs were replaced... This means that we needed to replace fewer EVMs this time."

After the first phase of polling concluded, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said, "Highest polling in the last 30 years indicates that change is coming to Bihar. A new system is going to be established on the 14th (November)..."

With ANI input

BSP chief Mayawati addresses a public meeting in Kaimur. She says, "Our party believes that since independence, power at the Centre and in most states, including Bihar, has mostly been in the hands of the wrong parties, especially Congress, BJP, and their alliance partners. Their casteist, narrow, and capitalist thinking has not changed even today."

Officials began sealing EVM machines from Munger, Tarapur, and Jamalpur constituencies.

The machines are being securely transported to designated strongrooms under tight security.

Election officers confirmed that the process was completed smoothly and without incident.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has alleged voter intimidation and police misconduct in Mohiuddinnagar and Sarai during Phase 1 of the Bihar Assembly elections.

The party claimed that police entered homes and threatened voters at booths 106, 107, and 108 in Mohiuddinnagar.

RJD also accused authorities of stopping boats carrying voters in Danapur and urged the Election Commission to take immediate action.

(ANI)

Polling Booth No. 93 in Gazipur village saw barely any voters in the final hour.

The school grounds remained quiet as Phase 1 voting wrapped up in Bihar.

Located in Tarapur constituency, the booth stood nearly deserted by 6 PM.

PTI

At 5 pm, 60.13 per cent of 3.75 crore voters cast their vote in 121 seats in Bihar, Minapur continued to record the highest turnout at 73.29%.

Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) founder Tej Pratap Yadav said his party would emerge as a "serious political force" after the Bihar Assembly Elections as his party fights election on 44 seats. "I am confident the people of Mahua will bless me again. Why won't they? I have worked for them, and they know it," he told PTI.

"If someone does good work, they should be congratulated. If they do bad work, they should be questioned. We believe in doing good work, and people will appreciate us," he said.

With PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday alleged that the NDA was "preparing to steal" the assembly polls in Bihar, "just like they did in Haryana".

Addressing back-to-back public rallies in Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts, the Congress general secretary alleged that the Election Commission (EC) was "colluding with the government to weaken our Constitution and democratic rights".

"Just like they stole the entire election in Haryana, they are preparing to do the same in Bihar by deleting 65 lakh votes from the rolls," she said.

PTI

Meanwhile. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy was attacked in Lakhisarai. Munger DIG Rakesh Kumar told PTI, “I am looking into the matter, and strict action will be taken against those responsible. The vehicle of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha was attacked in a nearby village area. I am visiting the village myself and will take appropriate action accordingly. There has been no impact on the polling process for the elections.”

As voting is underway in 121 seats in Bihar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP will try to "steal votes" with all its strength and urged youth to act responsibly. During a poll rally on Thursday, Gandhi claimed that the saffron party was winning elections everywhere by "stealing votes".

“We have shown the entire world that the BJP and the Election Commission have stolen the Haryana election. I am sure that they would try to steal votes in Bihar, too.

“It is the responsibility of Bihar's youth to put a stop to this, and save the Constitution... All of you need to be cautious at the polling booths,” the former Congress president said.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he wants a "rule of billionaires where the youth remain jobless". At another rally in Araria, Gandhi accused Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of imposing ‘jungle raj' in the country.“Nitish Kumar talks about ‘jungle raj' in Bihar... But, it is the PM and Amit Shah who have imposed ‘jungle raj' in Delhi, in the entire country, which is witnessing the rule of the ED, CBI, IT, hatred and unemployment. This is the true ‘jungle raj',” he asserted.

With PTI inputs

At 3 pm, 121 constituencies recorded a voter turnout of 53.77% with Minapur recording the highest at 64.72 %.

Educator Khan Sir casts his vote at booth number 241 in Kumhrar constituency

Watch video

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1986366631627595860

The first phase of voting is underway in Bihar and at 1 pm, 42.31 % voter turnout has been recorded with Gopalganj hitting the highest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday charged the opposition RJD-Congress combine in Bihar with having a soft corner for infiltrators, but "dislike" for Lord Ram and 'Chhathi Maiya' because of vote bank politics.

Addressing a rally in Araria district, Modi also alleged that the reluctance of opposition leaders to visit Ayodhya to have 'darshan' of shrines dedicated to Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri and Maharshi Valmiki was indicative of their "hatred" for Dalits and backward classes.

"Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of 'jungle raj'. No highways and bridges were built, nor any centres of higher learning were set up. The NDA under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has worked very hard to bring the state out of that era," he said. (PTI)

For the first time in two decades, voters in the Naxal-affected Bhimbandh area of Munger district exercised their franchise on Thursday, marking a significant return of democracy to a region where polling was suspended following the killing of SP C Surendra Babu and seven police personnel in 2005.

Voting was conducted peacefully across the three assembly constituencies of Munger district, with visible enthusiasm among residents of Bhimbandh. Seven polling stations were reopened in the Naxal-affected region, and a strong deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) ensured a smooth polling process.

A total of 27.65 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.

Begusarai district recorded the highest polling percentage so far at 30.37, followed by Lakhisarai (30.32) and Gopalganj (30.04). (PTI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote on Thursday morning from the Bakhtiyarpur constituency.

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 of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.

Saharsa recorded the highest polling percentage so far at 15.27, followed by Begusarai (14.6) and Muzaffarpur (14.38).

Several senior politicians, including RJD leader and INDIA bloc's CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav, Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha were among those who cast their votes early. (PTI)

Several senior politicians, including RJD leader and INDIA bloc's CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav and Union minister Giriraj Singh, were among those who cast their votes early during the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls on Thursday.

Tejashwi Yadav, along with his family members, including RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, cast his vote at a booth in Veterinary College in Patna.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Union minister Giriraj Singh cast their votes at respective booths in Lakhisarai, while Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' exercised his franchise in the state capital Patna.

State Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin voted along with his wife Deepmala Srivastava at a polling booth in Patna's Digha assembly segment. (PTI)

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Muslim women going to vote must lift her burqa for identification. He said, "This is India; the Election Commission's rules apply here, right? When a woman in a burqa goes to get an Aadhaar card made, doesn't she lift it? When she goes to the airport, doesn't she lift it? When she goes to make a reservation, doesn't she lift it? When she goes to claim government scheme benefits, doesn't she lift it?... Is this Pakistan or Bangladesh...? Is this an Islamic country or a secular country? This is a secular country. If there is a doubt, we shall make them lift the veil."

BJP candidate from Alinagar seat Maithili Thakur says she will make booth visits in her constituency to ensure that voters don't face any problems. "If I win, I shall work to ensure that works mentioned in our manifesto is done. Apart from that, my personal aspirations include a cultural centre, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a degree college, and roads to villages are well-maintained."

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma says Bihar Assembly election 2025 will be the end of 'Jungle Raj': "I believe that the Election Commission’s activeness, impartiality, and transparency are clearly visible in the Bihar elections. This election truly marks the complete end of the 'jungle raj' and 'mafia raj,' and it will accelerate the ongoing journey of development. Bihar's contribution will be ensured in fulfilling Prime Minister Modi Ji's dream of building a Viksit Bharat."

Around 3 crore 75 lakh voters to decide fate of 1,314 candidates across 121 constituencies.

Singer-actor and RJD candidate from Chapra Khesari Lal Yadav says, "People commenting on me has nothing do to with Bihar's development. I have not come here to fight any individual, I have come here for Bihar's development, better education, stopping migration, for jobs, employment, hospital... I believe that you can't think of better development in Bihar till the time this government is removed."

Right before the voting began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to exercise their right to franchise. "Today in Bihar is the first phase of the festival of democracy. My appeal to all voters of this phase in the assembly elections is that they should vote with full enthusiasm. On this occasion, my special congratulations to all my young companions of the state who are going to cast their vote for the first time," he posted on X.

While RJD leader Tejashwi aims at hat-trick in Raghopur Assembly seat, taking on NDA candidate Satish Kumar (BJP) and the Jan Suraaj Party’s (JSP) Chanchal Kumar, in Munger district's Tarapur constituency, Choudhary is facing RJD's Arun Shah. Meanwhile, Independent MLA and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu Prasad’s estranged son, is in fray from the Mahua constituency in Vaishali district against RJD's sitting MLA Mukesh Kumar Raushan, as well as LJP's Sanjay Singh. Here are the 7 key fights to watch out for.

The first phase of voting in Bihar Assembly elections kicked off today at 7 am with an expected 3.75 crore voters to decide the fate of 1,314 candidates, including key faces such as INDIA bloc’s pick for CM post Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.