The first phase of Bihar’s high-stakes assembly elections began on Thursday, covering 121 of the state’s 243 constituencies. By 5 pm, voter turnout had climbed to 60.13% across the 121 constituencies, as citizens voted at polling stations across the state. The turnout as of now is almost 5% above the turnout in the 2020 Assembly poll.

Top political figures including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan were among the early voters. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also cast his vote in the afternoon, joining other top leaders in urging high turnout.

Sharing a family photo with inked fingers, Lalu Yadav urged people to vote for change, writing that “20 years is too long” and calling for a “youth-led government” under Tejashwi Yadav.

Deputy CM Choudhary expressed confidence that the NDA would return to power with a “thumping majority,” while Chirag Paswan appealed for record voter participation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too urged voters to celebrate the “festival of democracy” with enthusiasm, expressing confidence that the NDA would secure a strong mandate.

Key battles and campaign highlights

The Opposition Grand Alliance, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, is banking heavily on anti-incumbency and his flagship promise of “one government job per household,” aimed at addressing Bihar’s chronic unemployment and migration issues.

The BJP, meanwhile, ran an aggressive campaign led by PM Modi and senior party leaders. Despite speculation about Nitish Kumar’s political future, party leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda reaffirmed the JD(U) chief’s position in the alliance.

The Congress, though part of the Grand Alliance, was criticized for its lacklustre campaign. While Rahul Gandhi initially joined Tejashwi Yadav for a joint foot march, his absence from the campaign trail in recent weeks drew attention.

Election strategist Prashant Kishor, contesting independently through his Jan Suraaj Party, has emerged as a potential wildcard. His decision to contest all seats without alliances could split the non-BJP vote. Kishor has claimed his party will either win “less than 10 or more than 150 seats.”

Issues shaping the election

The Bihar polls this year revolve around core livelihood concerns — unemployment, corruption, migration, education, and healthcare. Tejashwi Yadav’s 1.3 crore jobs promise has sparked debate, with the NDA dismissing it as financially unsustainable.

The ruling alliance has countered with its own promises of creating 1 crore jobs and empowering women, pledging to make 1 crore women lakhpatis through welfare initiatives.

In the 2020 assembly election, the Grand Alliance had dominated in the same belt, winning 63 of the 121 seats now polling. The NDA had secured 55 seats jointly between the BJP and JD(U).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing election rallies in Bhagalpur and Araria on Thursday, launched a sharp attack on the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, accusing them of having a “soft corner for infiltrators” and “dislike for Lord Ram and Chhathi Maiya” due to vote bank politics.

PM Modi said that while the NDA government has worked tirelessly under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to transform Bihar, the opposition has remained focused on appeasement. “Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of jungle raj. No highways, bridges, or higher education institutions were built,” he said, adding that the NDA’s governance has brought expressways, bridges, and four central universities to the state.

The Prime Minister stressed that the biggest challenge before the NDA is the menace of infiltration. “The NDA is committed to driving out every infiltrator from the country, but Congress and RJD protect them and mislead people for votes,” he alleged, indirectly referring to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent political yatra.

PM Modi also took aim at the opposition’s alleged disregard for tradition and faith. “The naamdaar of Congress called devotion to Chhathi Maiya a drama. They don’t even visit Ayodhya to have darshan of Lord Ram,” he said, adding that their refusal to visit shrines of Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri, and Maharshi Valmiki reflects their “hatred for Dalits and backward classes.”

As the first phase of polling took place in 121 constituencies, Modi praised voters’ enthusiasm, especially women’s strong turnout. “Our mothers and sisters have created a fortress at polling booths to stop the return of jungle raj,” he said.

Reiterating that RJD’s rule was marked by “katta, kroorta, katuta, kushasan, and corruption,” PM Modi accused the alliance of fostering social divisions and cited Congress’s role in the Bhagalpur riots of 1989. “RJD was responsible for caste violence, and Congress for communal riots,” he said.

Taking a swipe at both parties, he claimed the RJD and Congress were run by “the most corrupt families of Bihar and the country.” Modi also alleged internal conflict within the INDI Alliance, saying, “After elections, they’ll fight among themselves. The RJD put a katta at the Congress’s head to name its leader as CM candidate.”

As Bihar heads into a crucial two-phase Assembly election, the high-stakes battle for power has officially begun with voting underway across 121 constituencies in the first phase. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s NDA is aiming to retain power, while the Opposition Grand Alliance led by Tejashwi Yadav eyes an upset fueled by promises of employment and anti-incumbency sentiments.

Nitish Kumar seeks another term amid leadership speculation

The NDA’s campaign, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior party leaders, focused on continuity and governance. However, internal speculation over the leadership question — with reports hinting at the possible replacement of Nitish Kumar — dominated political chatter until the BJP clarified that Kumar remains their face in Bihar.

Tejashwi Yadav banks on job promise

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has built his campaign around an ambitious promise of providing one government job per household, which would amount to around 1.3 crore jobs. The Opposition hopes this will strike a chord with Bihar’s youth battling unemployment and migration.

Congress struggles to stay relevant

The Congress, a junior partner in the Grand Alliance, appeared disjointed in its campaign. Although Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav initially campaigned together, Gandhi’s long absence created confusion, even leading to “friendly contests” between RJD and Congress candidates in over a dozen seats.

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party enters the fray

Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all 243 seats, emerging as an unpredictable element. Kishor has said his party will either secure fewer than 10 or more than 150 seats, depending on voter response to his anti-corruption and governance-driven agenda.

Key issues and first phase dynamics

The election discourse centers on unemployment, corruption, healthcare, education, and migration. The NDA promises one crore jobs and a women-centric empowerment drive. In the 2020 elections, the Grand Alliance won 63 of the 121 seats that are voting today, while the NDA secured 55.

Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to participate actively in the “festival of democracy,” especially first-time voters, reminding them: “First voting, then refreshments.”