Patna: The first of two phases of polling in the high-stakes Bihar Assembly election was conducted on Thursday with voters turning up in historic numbers.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the provisional voter turnout was 64.66%, the highest in the state’s history.
The highest turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in Bihar was recorded at 64.6% in 1998. For an Assembly poll in the state, the maximum was 62.57% in 2000.
Polling took place in 121 constituencies on Thursday. The second phase of voting will be held on November 11, and the results will be declared on November 14.
Voting was by and large peaceful. However, an attack on Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha and allegations by the RJD that electricity was being cut off in “strong booths” of the Mahagathbandhan struck jarring notes.
The Deputy CM’s convoy came under attack in Lakhisarai district as unidentified men hurled stones, slippers and cow dung. Slogans of ‘Murdabad’ were raised and an effort made to block his passage.
Sinha alleged that he was attacked by RJD goons while voting was in progress in his constituency.
“The polling agent was not allowed to sit. I complained to the SP about it. Soon after, I was surrounded. Slippers, stones and even cow dung were thrown at me,” Sinha told CNN-News18.
#WATCH | #BiharElection2025 | RJD supporters surround Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Lakhisarai constituency, Vijay Kumar Sinha’s car, hurl slippers and chant “Murdabad”, forbidding him from going ahead. Police personnel present here.
Visuals from Lakhisarai. pic.twitter.com/qthw0QWL7G
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2025
The ruling NDA, Mahagatbandhan and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party are locked in a three-way contest to determine who captures power in Patna.
The election is being under the shadow of the controversial SIR exercise by ECI.
