The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 commenced today, November 6, with 121 constituencies across 18 districts going to the polls. This initial phase is crucial in determining the political landscape of the state, with key contenders from the NDA and Mahagathbandhan vying for victory.

Key Points:

1. Extensive Electoral Exercise: Polling is underway for 121 out of the total 243 assembly seats in Bihar. These constituencies are spread across 18 districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, Madhepura, and others. The remaining 122 seats will go to polls on November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14.
2. Voter Demographics: Over 3.75 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, including 10.72 lakh first-time voters. This significant number of new electors could play a crucial role in swaying the election's outcome.
3. Key Candidates in the Fray: The first phase will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates, including prominent figures from various parties. Key candidates include Tejashwi Yadav from the RJD, Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey from the BJP, and Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary from the JD(U). Tej Pratap Yadav is also contesting under his own party, Janshakti Janta Dal.
4. NDA vs. Mahagathbandhan: The primary contest is between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan. In the 2020 election, the Mahagathbandhan secured 63 of these 121 seats, while the BJP and JD(U) together won 55. This phase is also crucial for smaller parties within both coalitions.
5. Strategic Importance: This phase is particularly significant for the Mahagathbandhan, which aims to leverage its previous success in these constituencies. The NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, is focused on retaining its stronghold and expanding its influence.
6. Security Arrangements: The Election Commission has implemented elaborate security measures to ensure peaceful and fair polling. This includes deploying Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and conducting webcasting at all polling stations to closely monitor the electoral process. A General Observer has been deployed in each constituency for the first time.
7. Rural Focus: A significant majority of the 45,341 polling stations, specifically 36,733, are located in rural areas. This highlights the importance of rural voters in determining the outcome of this phase.
8. Campaigning Ends: The campaigning for the first phase concluded on November 4, with star campaigners and senior leaders from both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan making final efforts to rally support for their respective candidates.
9. Multi-Cornered Contest: Besides the main contenders, Tej Pratap Yadav, contesting under his new banner, and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj are also in the fray, adding complexity to the electoral battle.
10. Voting Details: Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, although in some constituencies, polling will conclude an hour earlier due to security concerns. The election commission has set up 90,712 polling booths for over 7.43 crore voters across the state.

The outcome of this first phase will set the tone for the remainder of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, influencing the strategies and campaigns of all parties involved. All eyes are on Bihar as the state embarks on this crucial democratic exercise.