Voting Gains Momentum in the First Phase of Bihar Elections

Patna (Bihar) :  Bihar once again stands before the court of democracy. With polling underway in 121 assembly constituencies, the first chapter of the 2025 electoral battle has begun. On the surface, it may seem like a routine democratic exercise, but a closer look reveals that this phase is a test of three key figures — Nitish Kumar’s credibility, Tejashwi Yadav’s reliability, and Prashant Kishor’s political potential.
In Bihar’s political landscape, alliances have ceased to be ideologies; they have become mere equations of electoral arithmetic. Those who were allies in 2020 are rivals in 2025. Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) now stands with the NDA, while Mukesh Sahani’s VIP has switched to the opposition camp. This reshuffling underscores that in Bihar, political ideology has taken a backseat to the pursuit of vote banks.
To recall, in the 2020 assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) won 61 of these seats while the NDA secured 59. Analysts suggest that this time, even a 0.37% swing in votes could prove decisive. Interestingly, during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA led in 95 of these assembly segments — a sign that public sentiment could either consolidate or shift dramatically.
It will now be intriguing to see whether the Lok Sabha trend repeats itself at the state level, or if Bihar’s electorate expresses a distinct local sentiment.
Another notable feature of this election is the emergence of a third front. Political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor has launched his new movement, Jan Suraaj, with a call for issue-based and reform-oriented politics beyond caste equations. However, how far idealism can go in Bihar’s deeply entrenched political soil remains to be seen. A startling statistic reveals that out of 1,314 candidates in the first phase, 354 face serious criminal charges — a number that raises not just electoral, but ethical concerns. The question remains: will Bihar’s voters once again elect tainted faces, or will this election mark the beginning of a cleaner political culture?
At the polling booths, enthusiasm was visible, but in Bihar, enthusiasm often collides with disillusionment. Development, education, and employment — these are the same issues echoed in every election, yet they remain unresolved. This time, however, voters seem to be judging their leaders on the touchstone of these unfulfilled promises.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, “Vote first, then breakfast,” and Priyanka Gandhi’s reminder that “this is the day to decide your future,” both seek to awaken the consciousness of Bihar’s electorate. The sight of Lalu Prasad Yadav voting with his family, Tejashwi Yadav’s emotional appeal, and a candidate arriving on a buffalo to cast his vote — all capture the rustic and vibrant essence of Bihar’s democratic culture, where politics still breathes in the soil’s scent.
For now, this is just the beginning of the electoral marathon, yet it carries within it the seeds of the final outcome. The questions linger: Can Nitish Kumar steer his fragile alliance to victory once again? Can Tejashwi Yadav transform youthful energy into real power? Or will Bihar set out in search of a third alternative?
Whatever the result, one thing is certain — today, Bihar’s voters are deciding whether democracy will remain a mere slogan or evolve into the true strength of the people’s mandate for the next five years.