Voting is underway for 121 of Bihar’s 243 assembly seats in the first phase of the 2025 state polls, marking a triangular contest between the ruling NDA (BJP-JD(U) alliance), the opposition Mahagathbandhan (RJD-Congress bloc), and Prashant Kishor’s debutant Jan Suraaj Party. Polling began at 7 a.m. and will close by 6 p.m. (5 p.m. in some areas).
Top candidates in the fray include Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary (BJP) from Tarapur, Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) from Raghopur, Tej Pratap Yadav from Mahua, Maithili Thakur (BJP) from Alinagar, and Anant Singh (JD(U)) from Mokama.
Around 3.75 crore voters, including 10.72 lakh new electors, will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates across 18 districts, including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Nalanda, and Bhojpur. Voting is being held in 45,341 polling stations, with the majority in rural areas.
The NDA comprises JD(U), BJP, LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM, and RLM; the Mahagathbandhan includes RJD, Congress, Left parties, and VIP; while the Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all 243 seats in its maiden election.
