Patna witnessed a vibrant display of democracy as the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections concluded with an impressive 57.9% voter turnout in the Patna district. This figure marks a notable increase from the 51.12% recorded in the 2020 elections, signaling heightened civic engagement among the populace. The polling, which took place across urban constituencies, was characterized by enthusiastic participation from both young voters and senior citizens alike.
Throughout the day, polling stations in Bankipur, Digha, Kumhrar, and Patna Sahib buzzed with activity. Patna is fully geared up for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, with polling underway from 7 AM to 6 PM. Over 48.3 lakh voters across 14 constituencies, including Digha, Kumhrar, and Patna Sahib, were eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of 149 candidates at 5677 polling booths.
A constituency-wise analysis reveals interesting trends. Digha saw a polling percentage of 41.4%, up from 36.86% in 2020. Bankipur recorded 40.97% compared to 35.85% five years ago. Kumhrar witnessed a 39.57% voter turnout, an increase from 35.22% in 2020. Patna Sahib registered the highest jump, with 59.93% of voters casting their ballots, up from 52.22% in the last election.
First-time voters, like 20-year-old Sarita Kumari from Shastri Nagar, expressed their enthusiasm for participating in the democratic process. Kumari, while flaunting her inked finger, emphasized the importance of better education, an improved system, and ample employment opportunities as key issues influencing her vote. K P Mishra, a 19-year-old college student from Ashiana, echoed this sentiment, noting the significant transformation in Bihar and expressing his excitement about contributing to the state's progress.
The elections weren't just for the young, as Sharad Kumar, a 55-year-old resident of Gulzarbagh, highlighted the long-standing need for change, particularly in the areas of job creation, infrastructure development, and reliable power supply. Kumar also mentioned the appeal of the "one job per family" promise, reflecting the aspirations of many families for a secure future for their children.
While the polling process was largely peaceful, minor tensions arose at a Veterinary College booth, where two women were allegedly denied their right to vote. This incident led to brief protests, but prompt intervention by the Patna district magistrate, Thiyagrajan S M, resolved the issue. The district magistrate confirmed that the glitch was addressed, and voting proceeded smoothly at all polling booths thereafter.
The election is crucial for both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc, with several key leaders and ministers contesting. In this first phase of the assembly elections, a voter turnout of 64.46 per cent was recorded provisionally at the close of polling in 121 seats in Bihar on Thursday. Begusarai district recorded the highest polling percentage so far at 67.32, followed by Samastipur (66.65) and Madhepura (65.74).
