At 64.4%, Bihar Records Highest-Ever Voter Turnout in Phase 1 of Assembly Election

The first phase of voting for the Bihar Assembly election concluded on Thursday with a record provisional voter turnout of 64.46%, the highest ever in the state’s electoral history, according to the Election Commission.

Polling was held across 121 Assembly constituencies in 18 districts, with over 3.75 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said voting began at 7 am and continued till 6 pm under tight security arrangements.

The previous highest turnout in a Bihar Assembly election was 62.57% in 2000. The state had also recorded a 64.6% turnout during the 1998 Lok Sabha polls.

Key Highlights from Phase 1

• Total seats in phase: 121 out of 243

• Voters: 3.75 crore

• Candidates in the fray: 1,314

• Polling stations: 45,341 (36,733 in rural areas)

• Highest turnout: Begusarai

• Lowest turnout: Sheikhpura

CEO Gunjiyal said 143 complaints were received during the day, all of which were “immediately resolved”. For the first time, 100% of the polling stations were covered through live webcasting, monitored directly by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

Incidents Reported

• Poll boycott was reported in select booths in Buxar, Fatuha and Suryagarha.

• In Lakhisarai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by “RJD goons” while visiting an area where voters were reportedly being “terrorised”. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report.

• In Saran district’s Manjhi constituency, the convoy of CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Satyendra Yadav was attacked by unidentified persons. No injuries were reported.

The remaining 122 seats will go to polls on November 11. Counting of votes for all 243 constituencies is scheduled for November 14.