Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 took place on November 6, covering 121 assembly constituencies across the state. In Patna district, polling was held in 14 assembly seats with a voter turnout of 23.71% recorded by 11 AM. The district has a total of 48,30,135 registered voters, including 25,47,931 men and 22,82,047 women. A total of 149 candidates are contesting from these 14 constituencies. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote in the Bakhtiyarpur constituency. Security arrangements were extensive, with three-layer protection deployed at all polling stations. Central Armed Police Forces were stationed at every booth, along with static surveillance teams and district forces. A 100-meter perimeter around polling stations was declared a restricted zone. District Magistrate Tyagarajan confirmed that zonal magistrates were appointed at every police station level, and webcasting facilities with large TV screens were set up for monitoring. Special vigilance was maintained in Mokama and Badh areas, with senior officials deployed and CAPF conducting continuous patrols in rural regions. Mobile phones had to be deposited at polling stations using token systems. The elections feature several high-profile contests, including two strongmen facing off in Mokama constituency. Voters can collect their phones after voting by presenting tokens.
High-Profile Electoral Battles in Patna District
The Mokama constituency witnessed a significant contest between two influential political figures. Anant Singh received the ticket from Janata Dal United but is currently lodged in jail due to his arrest in the Dularchand murder case. He is contesting the election from prison. Opposing him is Veena Devi, wife of Surajbhan Singh, who is the Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate. In Danapur, another notable contest features Ritlal Yadav and Ramkripal Yadav facing each other, with Ritlal also currently in jail. The Digha assembly seat has Bharatiya Janata Party's Sanjiv Chaurasia competing against Divya Gautam, sister of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Bankipur constituency will decide the fate of Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitin Navin. These high-stakes battles have attracted significant attention, with voters deciding the political future of these candidates through their votes cast today.
Comprehensive Security Measures Implemented
District administration implemented stringent three-layer security arrangements across all 14 assembly constituencies. Central Armed Police Forces were deployed at every polling booth as the primary security layer. Static surveillance teams formed the second layer, while district police forces provided the third layer of protection. District Magistrate Tyagarajan explained that 565 sector magistrates, 84 zonal magistrates, and 14 super zonal magistrates were appointed for smooth election conduct. A strict 100-meter radius around each polling station was designated as a restricted curfew zone where unauthorized movement was prohibited. Zonal magistrates were positioned at every police station level to handle any law and order situations. Webcasting systems with large television screens were installed at all booths for real-time monitoring. Mobile phones were not allowed inside polling stations; voters had to deposit their phones using a token system and could retrieve them after voting. Special attention was given to Mokama and Badh regions, where senior officers were specially deployed and CAPF units conducted regular patrols in rural areas. Authorities warned that antisocial elements attempting to disrupt law and order would face strict action.
Voter Turnout and Registration Details
The first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 commenced across 121 constituencies statewide, with Patna district participating in the democratic exercise. By 11 AM, the voter turnout reached 23.71% in Patna's 14 assembly seats. The district has a substantial electorate of 48,30,135 registered voters, comprising 25,47,931 male and 22,82,047 female voters. A total of 149 candidates are competing for these 14 seats, representing various political parties and alliances. The elections are seeing participation from major political formations including Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal United, and Rashtriya Janata Dal. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar exercised his democratic right by casting his vote in the Bakhtiyarpur constituency. The polling process, which began early morning, was conducted under the watchful eyes of election officials and observers. Voting continued throughout the day at all designated polling stations, with citizens queuing up to participate in this important democratic exercise that will determine their representatives in the state assembly for the next term.
Protests and Local Issues Surface During Voting
The election day witnessed some local protests highlighting civic issues in certain areas. In the Maner assembly constituency, voters raised slogans demanding better road infrastructure, chanting slogans like 'No road, no vote' to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of proper roads in their area. This protest reflected the concerns of residents who have been facing difficulties due to poor infrastructure. Despite such demonstrations, the voting process continued peacefully across all constituencies. Election officials ensured that such protests did not disrupt the polling procedure while acknowledging the legitimate grievances of citizens. The administration maintained that all necessary arrangements were in place for smooth conduct of elections. Security personnel remained alert throughout the day to handle any potential law and order challenges. The election commission had made provisions for addressing voter complaints and concerns through designated officials at polling stations. Overall, despite isolated protests over local issues, the democratic process proceeded as planned, with voters turning out in significant numbers to exercise their franchise and choose their representatives for the state assembly.
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