Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 began on the morning of November 6, 2025, in four constituencies of Saharsa district. The polling started at 7 AM and continued until 6 PM in most areas. A total of 12.96 lakh voters decided the fate of 45 candidates across 1566 polling stations in Saharsa, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Sonvarsa (Reserved), and Mahishi assembly seats. By 11 AM, the voter turnout stood at 29.68 percent across the district. The main contest was between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). NDA fielded candidates from BJP, JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while the Mahagathbandhan had nominees from RJD, Congress, and Indian Inclusive Party. Among the prominent candidates, Ratnesh Sada, the Minister of Excise and Prohibition, was in the fray from Sonvarsa. The only woman candidate in Saharsa, Sarita Paswan of Congress, contested from Sonvarsa seat. Special arrangements were made for voters in remote areas along the Kosi embankment, including boats equipped with GPS, tractors, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams. More than 20,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces and police, were deployed to ensure peaceful polling. The election commission set up special booths for women, youth, and differently-abled voters. Webcasting facilities were installed at all polling centers to maintain transparency. Some booths in Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Mahishi areas closed polling at 5 PM due to their location within the Kosi embankment region.
Polling Statistics and Voter Participation Details
The district recorded 29.68 percent voter turnout by 11 AM across four assembly constituencies. Saharsa constituency registered the highest turnout at 32.17 percent, followed by Mahishi at 29.23 percent, Simri Bakhtiyarpur at 29.12 percent, and Sonvarsa at 27.69 percent. The total electorate in the district comprises 12,96,074 voters, including 6,79,117 male voters, 6,16,875 female voters, and 22 third-gender voters. Additionally, 110 differently-abled voters above 85 years of age also exercised their franchise. A total of 6,932 polling staff were deployed across 1566 polling centers. Voting ended at 6 PM in most areas, but in 105 polling stations located within the Kosi embankment region in Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Mahishi constituencies, polling concluded at 5 PM. Each assembly segment had one model polling station, one youth polling station, one booth for differently-abled voters, and three women (pink) booths. Overall, the district set up 12 model centers, 11 youth centers, 15 women centers, and 4 booths dedicated to differently-abled voters.
Key Candidates and Political Alliances in Contest
The electoral battle featured direct contests between NDA and Mahagathbandhan across all four seats. In Saharsa, BJP's sitting MLA Alok Ranjan faced Indian Inclusive Party national president Indrajit Prasad Gupta. The Mahishi seat witnessed a contest between JD(U)'s Gunjeshwar Sah and RJD candidate Gautam Krishna. In Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) nominee Sanjay Kumar Singh competed against RJD's Yusuf Salauddin. The Sonvarsa (Reserved) seat saw a battle between JD(U)'s Ratnesh Sada, the incumbent minister, and Congress candidate Sarita Paswan, who was the only woman candidate from Saharsa district in this election. The NDA alliance divided the seats among BJP, JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while the Mahagathbandhan gave one seat to Indian Inclusive Party, two to RJD, and one to Congress. The electoral arrangement reflected the strategic seat-sharing formulas worked out by both major coalitions ahead of the polling day.
Special Arrangements for Remote Kosi Embankment Areas
The election authorities made comprehensive arrangements for 105 polling stations located within the Kosi embankment region covering parts of Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Mahishi constituencies. GPS-equipped boats and tractors were deployed to facilitate the movement of polling staff in these remote areas. The administration established 15 cluster points with generators and adequate lighting facilities to support operations. For nighttime security, boats were fitted with radium light strips to ensure visibility. Eight SDRF teams were stationed in these flood-prone zones to handle any emergency situation. Mounted police units on horses also conducted regular patrols in the embankment areas where vehicles could not reach easily. These special measures ensured that voters in difficult terrains could cast their votes without hindrance. The arrangements reflected the administration's commitment to provide equal voting opportunities to all citizens, regardless of geographical challenges. Polling staff in these areas faced unique logistical difficulties, but the comprehensive planning helped conduct the voting process smoothly and safely in these sensitive locations.
Security Deployment and Transparency Measures
Over 20,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces and state police, were deployed across Saharsa district to ensure peaceful and fair elections. The security arrangement included booth-level forces, Quick Response Teams (QRT), super zonal units, and mobile patrolling parties that maintained continuous vigilance throughout polling hours. Every polling center was equipped with webcasting facilities to enable real-time monitoring of the voting process and maintain complete transparency. The administration took strict measures to prevent any law and order issues during the election day. The heavy security presence aimed to instill confidence among voters and allow them to exercise their franchise without fear or pressure. District officials made it clear that any attempt to disrupt the polling process would be dealt with firmly. The multi-layered security framework covered all sensitive and hypersensitive booths identified beforehand. Central forces were specifically deployed at critical locations where past elections had witnessed disturbances. The comprehensive security plan also included surveillance through drones and CCTV cameras at strategic points to monitor crowd movement and prevent any untoward incidents during the voting process.
Voter Facilities and Administration's Appeal
The district administration made several arrangements to facilitate smooth voting for all sections of society. Special booths were set up for women voters (pink booths), youth voters, and differently-abled citizens at designated polling stations. Each polling center provided basic amenities including drinking water, shade, toilet facilities, and accessibility features for persons with disabilities. The administration appealed to all eligible voters to participate fearlessly in this democratic festival and cast their votes without any hesitation. Officials emphasized that every vote counted and citizens should fulfill their democratic responsibility. Special attention was given to ensuring comfort and convenience for senior citizens and first-time voters. The election commission created awareness about the importance of voting through various campaigns leading up to polling day. Voters were informed about their rights and the procedures to follow at polling stations. The administration assured citizens that their safety was a top priority and adequate measures were in place to address any concerns or difficulties faced during voting hours.
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