Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 64.66% in the first phase of the 2025 assembly elections on Thursday. The Election Commission of India hailed the participation across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Over 3.75 crore electors cast ballots peacefully. Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal announced the provisional figure at a Patna press conference. Phase two will follow on November 11, with results available on November 14. The Bihar election 2025 recorded a turnout exceeding the 62.57% mark from 2000.
This milestone resonates across South Asia, where Bihar’s governance influences migration patterns and economic ties. The state sends millions of workers to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Gulf nations annually. High turnout reflects demands for jobs and stability that echo in neighbouring economies. Nitish Kumar’s long rule has somewhat stabilised Bihar, but the opposition’s push for change could alter regional labour flows. Pakistan watches closely, as Bihar’s unrest historically spikes cross-border tensions.
Bihar Voter Turnout Phase 1 2025 Breaks Historic Barriers
Polling stations buzzed from dawn in districts like Begusarai and Gopalganj. The Bihar voter turnout in Phase 1 of 2025 climbed steadily, reaching 27.65% by 11 AM and 53.77% by 3 PM. Final tallies confirmed a 64.66% success rate, surpassing all prior assembly phases. The Voter Turnout App tracked real-time surges, with the Minapur constituency reaching a turnout of 73.29%.
ECI credited initiatives like festive decorations and selfie points. Balloons adorned the booths, and tents shielded the queues from the November sun. Elderly voters rode electric rickshaws to sites. EVM replacements dropped to 1.21%, down from 1.87% in 2020. “The participation of women voters was very good,” Gunjiyal stated.
Women formed nearly half the 74 million electorate. Their steady rise in turnout targeted welfare schemes from both camps. Kushboo Devi, a 40-year-old campaigner in Masaurhi, noted: “Because in Bihar, wherever you see a higher voting percentage, it’s usually the women who are showing up at the poll booths.”
District breakdowns varied. Begusarai led at 67.32%, Gopalganj at 64.96%, and Muzaffarpur at 64.63%. Patna lagged initially at 37.72% by 1 PM but recovered. Sheikhpura posted the lowest at 52.36%. Maoist-hit areas in Munger voted freely for the first time in decades.
Nitish Kumar Bihar Polls 2025: Alliance Faces Voter Verdict
Nitish Kumar steers the NDA coalition with the BJP, contesting 121 seats in Phase 1. The Janata Dal (United) chief has governed Bihar for most of the past two decades. His alliance promises “sushasan” or good governance, contrasting with the opposition’s job pledges. The Bihar election 2025 recorded a turnout of 18%, testing Kumar’s hold amid youth unemployment at 18%.
RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav eyes the top post, backed by Congress in the INDIA bloc. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party fields fresh faces. Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD patriarch, campaigns despite health woes. Past alliances between Kumar and Yadav add intrigue.
ECI dismissed claims of voter list manipulations, excluding Muslims. The body weeded out 4.7 million names from the September rolls, finalizing 74.2 million voters. No major violence marred Phase One, although the RJD alleged intimidation in spots like Mohiuddinnagar.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar praised the process. “Bihar has shown the way to the nation. SIR with zero appeals and the highest voter turnout since 1951. Purest electoral rolls and enthusiastic participation of electors. Transparent and dedicated election machinery. Democracy wins.”
South Asian observers noted the scale. South Africa’s Electoral Commission chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, called Kumar to commend the transparency. Bihar’s polls draw 1,314 candidates, including deputies like Samrat Choudhary.
Voter Enthusiasm Drives Bihar Voter Turnout Phase 1 2025 Surge
Rural booths saw families trek kilometres. In Taraiya, queues snaked past dawn. Alipur villagers carried a 70-year-old woman to her station. Urban Patna faced longer lines, but apps made navigation easier.
The 243-seat assembly holds sway over India’s third-most populous state. Bihar contributes 40 Lok Sabha seats, tilting national balances. Phase one covered diverse belts from Seemanchal to Magadh.
ECI’s cVIGIL app logged complaints swiftly. Over 500 resolved on-site. International praise flowed, with Moepya terming Bihar’s system “one of the most transparent and efficient in the world.” The Bihar voter turnout in Phase 1 of 2025 outpaces that of 2020, at 57.05%. Analysts link it to aggressive campaigns. Modi rallied in Araria, vowing to fulfill the dreams of the youth. Tejashwi stressed employment.
Background: Bihar’s Electoral Legacy and Nitish Kumar Bihar Polls 2025
Bihar’s polls date back to 1952, with turnouts hovering between 40% and 60%. The 1998 Lok Sabha election reached 64.6%, but the assemblies lagged. Nitish Kumar’s Bihar polls 2025 mark his eighth outing as a chief minister contender. Kumar flipped alliances thrice since 2015, irking rivals. His 2024 federal pivot aided Modi’s coalition. JD(U) holds 43 seats, while BJP has 74. RJD leads opposition with 75.
The economy weighs heavily. Bihar’s per capita income lags behind the national average by 40%. Migration drains 2 million yearly. Remittances fuel PKR-equivalent inflows to border villages. Caste calculus dominates. Yadavs back RJD, EBCs split loyalties. Women’s quotas in local bodies boosted female participation.
What’s Next: Phase Two and Counting Horizon
Phase two spans 122 seats on November 11. Security ramps up in sensitive zones. ECI eyes 70% overall turnout. Counting on November 14 could reshape alliances. NDA eyes majority; INDIA bets on anti-incumbency.
The record turnout in the Bihar election 2025 underscores democratic vigor. It challenges Nitish Kumar’s endurance while eyeing fresh mandates. Regional watchers anticipate ripples in South Asian labour and trade.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 7th, 2025
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