Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of the state for the record voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. The CM appealed to citizens to continue their enthusiastic participation in the second phase on November 11, emphasizing the importance of voting in shaping a developed and progressive Bihar.
Record Voter Turnout in First Phase
The first phase of voting, held on Thursday across 121 assembly constituencies in 18 districts, witnessed an unprecedented 64.69% turnout—the highest in the history of Bihar elections. Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Guniyal confirmed that the process was conducted smoothly and peacefully, reflecting the electorate’s strong commitment to democracy.
District-wise Voting Highlights
Among the 18 districts, Muzaffarpur recorded the highest voter turnout at 71.41%, followed closely by Samastipur (71.22%), Begusarai (69.58%), Saharsa (69.16%), Madhepura (69.03%), Vaishali (67.68%), Khagaria (67.65%), and Gopalganj (66.58%). On the other hand, Patna (58.40%), Bhojpur (58.91%), Nalanda (59.33%), and Siwan (60.54%) reported relatively lower participation, though still significant.
CM Nitish Kumar’s Message to Voters
Taking to social media platform X on November 7, the day after polling, CM Nitish Kumar said,
“Heartfelt thanks to the people of Bihar for record voter turnout in the first phase. Bihar has witnessed unprecedented progress in recent years. Now it’s time to include Bihar among the most developed states. Voting in a democracy is not only a right but also a responsibility.”
He further urged,
“I appeal to the people of Bihar to participate with the same enthusiasm on November 11 for the second phase, so that Bihar can move forward, ensuring respect and development for all.”
Massive Voter Base and Polling Infrastructure
This phase saw a total of 3,75,13,302 registered voters, including 1,98,35,325 men, 1,76,77,219 women, and 758 third-gender voters. Across the state, 45,341 polling stations were set up, with 36,733 in rural areas and 8,608 in urban centers.
Anticipation Ahead of Second Phase
With the first phase setting a new benchmark in voter participation, attention now turns to the second phase of polling on November 11. Political analysts and the public alike are keenly awaiting the results to see which party or candidate benefits from the record turnout.
The high participation in the first phase underscores Bihar’s growing electoral engagement and reflects the people’s commitment to contributing to the state’s development and democratic processes.
