Bihar Polls Phase 1: Patna records lowest polling; Who’s leading the voter turnout race?

Patna: The first phase of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections saw a steady voter turnout, with an overall participation rate of 27.65% recorded at 11 AM, as per the latest data released by the Election Commission. This phase covers 121 constituencies across 18 districts, including key regions like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gopalganj. Begusarai and Lakhisarai Lead in Voter Participation Among the districts, Begusarai topped the turnout chart with 30.37%, closely followed by Lakhisarai at 30.32%, and Gopalganj at 30.04%. These figures indicate enthusiastic participation in these constituencies, reflecting high voter engagement and effective mobilization by political parties. Other districts with turnout above the overall average include Saharsa (29.68%), Muzaffarpur (29.66%), and Khagaria (28.96%). Bihar Elections 2025: Turnout hits 27.65% by 11 am; Details inside Lowest Turnout Recorded in State Capital Patna In contrast, the state capital Patna recorded the lowest voter turnout of 23.71%, which is noticeably below the overall average. This comparatively low participation in Patna could be attributed to urban voting trends or other local factors such as voter apathy or logistical challenges. Other districts with turnout below the average include Sheikhpura (26.04%), Darbhangha (26.07%), and Nalanda (26.86%). Other Districts Show Moderate Turnout Districts such as Madhepura (28.46%), Vaishali (28.67%), Saran (28.52%), and Buxar (28.02%) displayed moderate levels of voter participation, all hovering around the 28% mark. Meanwhile, Munger (26.68%) and Bhojpur (26.76%) lagged slightly behind but remained close to the overall average turnout. Phase 1 Polling Continues Until 6 PM Voting for the first phase began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM today, covering a total of 121 seats spread across 18 districts. The Election Commission has put in place robust measures to ensure free and fair polling, including strict monitoring, deployment of security personnel, and facilitation for differently-abled voters. Significance of Early Turnout in Bihar Elections Early voter turnout figures often provide a glimpse into the electoral enthusiasm and can influence campaign strategies for the upcoming second phase scheduled for November 11. Political analysts will closely watch these numbers to gauge which parties are likely to benefit from the early momentum. Bihar Phase 1 Voting: CM Nitish Kumar votes in Bakhtiyarpur, urges voters to ‘exercise rights’ Next Steps: Second Phase and Counting Dates The second phase of Bihar’s assembly elections will be held on November 11, covering the remaining constituencies. The counting of votes and final results announcement is slated for November 14, 2025. As Bihar votes in two phases, voter turnout data from today will be a crucial indicator of public sentiment and democratic engagement in one of India’s most politically vibrant states. Summary Table of Voter Turnout (11 AM) As per the data released by the Election Commission the voter turnout is given below- Begusarai: 30.37 Lakhisarai: 30.32 Gopalganj: 30.04 Saharsa: 29.68 Muzaffarpur: 29.66 Khagaria: 28.96 Vaishali: 28.67 Saran: 28.52 Madhepura: 28.46 Buxar: 28.02 Samastipur: 27.92 Siwan: 27.09 Bhojpur: 26.76 Munger: 26.68 Nalanda: 26.86 Darbhanga: 26.07 Sheikhpura:26.04 Patna: 23.71 Overall Turnout: 27.65% (11 AM)