Patna: The first phase of voting for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections began today, with several prominent political leaders and celebrities turning up at polling booths to cast their ballots and urge citizens to participate in the democratic process.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote at the Manju Sinha Project Girls Higher Secondary School in Bakhtiyarpur, his home constituency. He was accompanied by cabinet colleague Sanjay Jha, though the chief minister refrained from addressing the media. Supporters gathered outside the booth, chanting “Nitish Kumar Zindabad.” Earlier in the day, Nitish had taken to social media to appeal to voters to exercise their franchise responsibly.
In Bhojpur, Bhojpuri film star Pawan Singh also voted, telling reporters, “I have voted for development. I appeal to everyone in Bihar to come out and vote for progress.”
Meanwhile, Tej Pratap—eldest son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav—was notably absent from the Lalu family’s group photo taken after voting. While other family members, including Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, posed together, Tej Pratap chose to vote separately. Speaking to the media, he said, “Every vote counts. The blessings of parents are special, but the blessings of the public matter the most.”
Mukesh Sahni, president of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and Grand Alliance’s deputy chief ministerial candidate, voted with his family. He urged citizens to take ownership of the democratic process, saying, “Vote for a better Bihar and a better government. This country belongs to its people, not to any leader. The right to vote comes every five years—make it count.”
Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bihar’s Water Resources Minister, cast his vote at booth number 363 in the Ujiarpur constituency. He expressed confidence in the re-election of Nitish Kumar’s government, stating that the chief minister’s leadership continues to inspire faith among the electorate.
