Patna: The political temperature in Bihar has surged following the first phase of the state assembly elections, with Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief and Grand Alliance deputy chief ministerial candidate Mukesh Sahani issuing a blistering statement over the recent attack on Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy.
“They are now facing the consequences of the Bihar they themselves created,” Sahani said, holding the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) responsible. He added that, with the NDA in power both at the state and central level, it was incumbent upon them to ensure a proper investigation. “The public is now in a mood for change. There is a wave of the Grand Alliance; people are ousting them from power,” he said.
The first phase of voting also set a new benchmark for participation. A record 64.66% of registered voters turned out across 121 assembly constituencies in 18 districts. Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjyal noted that over two lakh voters aged 85 and above exercised their franchise this year.
A total of 8,608 polling stations were set up in urban areas and 36,733 in rural regions. Election officials deployed 47,263 ballot units, 45,341 control units, and an equal number of VVPAT machines. Of these, 165 ballot units, 169 control units, and 480 VVPATs – around 1.21% of the total – had to be replaced, marking a lower replacement rate than the 1.87% recorded in the 2020 assembly elections.
