The first phase of the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections witnessed a moderate voter turnout of 42.31 per cent until 1 pm on Wednesday, as millions of citizens across 71 constituencies exercised their franchise to shape the state's political future.
According to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the polling, which began at 7 am, has seen a steady stream of voters despite the ongoing pandemic. Voting will continue until 6 pm across all constituencies in this phase.
The district-wise breakdown of voter turnout reveals a varied picture across the state's different regions. Leading the pack was Gopalganj, which registered an impressive turnout of 46.73 per cent by the afternoon. It was closely followed by Begusarai at 46.02% and Lakhisarai at 46.37%, indicating a keen level of electoral engagement in these districts.
In a notable contrast, the state capital, Patna, reported the lowest polling percentage so far at 37.72 per cent. This lower figure in the urban centre has sparked discussions among political analysts, with some attributing it to weekday voting and a potentially delayed influx of urban voters in the latter half of the day.
Other districts that showed robust participation included Muzaffarpur (45.41%), Saharsa (44.20%), and Madhepura (44.16%). Meanwhile, regions like Bhojpur (41.15%), Buxar (41.10%), and Saran (43.06%) witnessed turnout figures hovering around the state average.
The first phase is crucial, with several key ministers and heavyweight candidates in the fray. The electoral battle is primarily between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance), comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made across all polling booths to ensure a free and fair election. Authorities have implemented strict COVID-19 protocols, including mandatory sanitization, thermal screening, and social distancing measures to safeguard voters.
As the day progresses, political parties will be keenly watching the final turnout numbers, which are often seen as a barometer of public sentiment. The focus now shifts to whether the afternoon hours will see a surge in voting, particularly in urban centres like Patna, that could significantly alter the final percentage. The outcome of this phase will set the tone for the remaining two phases of the election, the results of which will be declared on November 10.
District-wise Voter Turnout till 1 PM:
Begusarai: 46.02%
Bhojpur: 41.15%
Buxar: 41.10%
Darbhanga: 39.35%
Gopalganj: 46.73%
Khagaria: 42.94%
Lakhisarai: 46.37%
Madhepura: 44.16%
Munger: 41.47%
Muzaffarpur: 45.41%
Nalanda: 41.87%
Patna: 37.72%
Saharsa: 44.20%
Samastipur: 43.03%
Saran: 43.06%
Sheikhpura: 41.23%
Siwan: 41.20%
Vaishali: 42.60%
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