Patna: Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, which began at 7 a.m. on Saturday, gathered momentum by 11 a.m., with notable variations in voter turnout across the state. According to official data, Begusarai led the pack with a turnout of 30.37%, followed closely by Lakhisarai at 30.32% and Gopalganj at 30.04%. In contrast, Patna recorded the lowest participation at 23.71%.
Other districts also saw moderate engagement, including Saharsa at 29.68%, Muzaffarpur 29.66%, Madhepura 28.46%, Saran 28.52%, Vaishali 28.67%, and Khagaria 28.96%. Voter turnout in Siwan stood at 27.09%, Samastipur 27.92%, Nalanda 26.86%, Bhojpur 26.76%, Darbhanga 26.07%, Sheikhpura 26.04%, and Munger 26.68%. The overall turnout for the first phase by 11 a.m. was 27.65%, more than double the 9 a.m. figure of 13.13%, suggesting a steady influx of voters at polling stations.
Election authorities have enhanced security measures and logistical arrangements at all booths to ensure smooth and peaceful voting. Special awareness campaigns are being conducted in districts with lower participation, such as Patna, to encourage voter turnout. Voting is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m., with security forces monitoring all districts.
Within Patna district, the Paliganj assembly constituency recorded the highest turnout at 31.53%, while urban Bankipur, where state minister Nitin Nabin is contesting, lagged behind at just 11.06%. Other constituencies in Patna showed varied engagement: Mokama 26.8%, Bhagalpur 26.95%, Bakhtiyarpur 27.37%, Digha 14.69%, Kumhrar 16.08%, Patna Sahib 21.3%, Fatuha 28.52%, Danapur 22.98%, Maner 26.58%, Phulwarisharif 25.22%, Masaurhi 31.02%, and Bikram 29.23%.
