Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded across all seven assembly seats in Bhojpur district. By 5 PM, a total of 53.24 percent voter turnout was recorded. The fate of 80 candidates across these constituencies is now sealed in electronic voting machines. A total of 2,551 polling booths were set up across the district. An unusual incident was reported from Kusumhi polling station in the Agiaon constituency, where only 3 votes were cast during the entire polling day. The district has a total of 20 lakh 98 thousand 535 voters, including 11 lakh 14 thousand 277 male voters, 9 lakh 84 thousand 129 female voters, and 29 third-gender voters. Among these, 44 thousand 410 are first-time voters aged between 18 and 19 years. All polling stations were equipped with webcasting facilities, along with basic amenities like drinking water, toilets, ramps, electricity, furniture, help desks, and proper signage. The seven constituencies voting in this phase include Arrah, Sandesh, Barhara, Agiaon, Tarari, Jagdishpur, and Shahpur. The ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition Grand Alliance fielded multiple candidates across these seats. Among the 80 candidates contesting, only three are women. The Jan Suraaj Party nominated Padma Ojha from Shahpur, while independent candidates Kajal from Barhara and Sandhya Kumari from Sandesh also entered the electoral battle. This phase is crucial for both major alliances as they seek to establish dominance in this politically significant region of Bihar.
Polling Station Distribution and Facilities
The Bhojpur district administration established 2,551 polling stations across seven assembly constituencies for smooth conduct of elections. Sandesh constituency had 367 booths, Barhara 362, Arrah 371, Agiaon 326, Tarari 376, Jagdishpur 373, and Shahpur 376 polling centers. Every polling station was equipped with comprehensive webcasting systems to ensure transparency and monitoring throughout the voting process. The election commission made extensive arrangements for voter convenience, including clean drinking water, separate toilet facilities, wheelchair-accessible ramps for differently-abled voters, uninterrupted power supply, adequate furniture, dedicated help desks staffed with trained personnel, and clear directional signage in local languages. These facilities aimed to encourage maximum voter participation and ensure a comfortable voting experience. The administration deployed thousands of polling personnel across these centers to manage the electoral process efficiently. Security arrangements were made robust with adequate police and paramilitary forces deployed to maintain law and order throughout the polling day.
Alliance-wise Candidate Distribution
The National Democratic Alliance distributed seats between its partner parties for this electoral battle. The Bharatiya Janata Party fielded candidates in four constituencies: Arrah, Barhara, Tarari, Agiaon, and Shahpur. Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United) contested from Sandesh and Jagdishpur seats. On the opposition side, the Grand Alliance also strategically allocated constituencies among partners. The Rashtriya Janata Dal nominated candidates in four seats covering Sandesh, Jagdishpur, Barhara, and Shahpur. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) took responsibility for three constituencies: Arrah, Tarari, and Agiaon. This seat-sharing arrangement reflected the internal negotiations and electoral calculations of both major alliances. Each party selected candidates based on their perceived winnability and local influence in respective constituencies. The distribution aimed to maximize the overall seat tally by fielding the strongest candidate from either alliance partner in each constituency rather than competing against each other.
Voter Demographics and First-Time Voters
Bhojpur district recorded a total electorate of 20 lakh 98 thousand 535 voters across its seven assembly constituencies. The gender distribution showed 11 lakh 14 thousand 277 male voters and 9 lakh 84 thousand 129 female voters registered in the electoral rolls. Additionally, 29 voters identified as third gender were also registered. A significant demographic segment comprised first-time voters, with 44 thousand 410 young voters aged between 18 and 19 years eligible to exercise their franchise for the first time. This youth segment could potentially play a decisive role in determining electoral outcomes, as political parties made special efforts to connect with younger voters through social media campaigns and youth-oriented messaging. The relatively balanced gender ratio in the voter list reflected improved registration drives targeting women voters. The inclusion of third-gender voters demonstrated the election commission's commitment to inclusive electoral processes. These demographic details became crucial for parties while designing their campaign strategies and identifying target voter groups across different constituencies.
Women Candidates in the Electoral Contest
A notable aspect of this electoral phase was the minimal representation of women candidates. Among the 80 contestants vying for seven seats, only three women entered the electoral battlefield. Neither the National Democratic Alliance nor the Grand Alliance nominated any female candidate from their coalition. The Jan Suraaj Party broke this trend by fielding Padma Ojha as their candidate from the Shahpur assembly constituency. Two other women entered as independent candidates, with Kajal contesting from Barhara and Sandhya Kumari from Sandesh constituency. This low representation of women candidates raised questions about political parties' commitment to gender diversity in electoral politics. Women voters constitute nearly half of the electorate in the district, yet their representation in candidate lists remained extremely limited. Political analysts noted this disparity between voter demographics and candidate profiles. The three women candidates faced an uphill battle against established male politicians backed by major political parties. Their campaigns focused on local issues and grassroots mobilization, attempting to overcome the disadvantage of limited party machinery and resources.
Historical Context of Arrah Constituency
The Arrah assembly seat carries significant political history in Bhojpur district. The Congress party won this constituency seven times in past elections, establishing it as a traditional stronghold. However, after 1985, Congress failed to secure victory here, marking a dramatic political shift. In 2000, Amarendra Pratap Singh, son of former Chief Minister Harihar Singh, brought the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in Arrah. Amarendra Pratap successfully contested from this seat five consecutive times, transforming Arrah into a BJP fortress. This dominance continued until 2015 when the Rashtriya Janata Dal managed to wrest the seat from BJP control during the Grand Alliance wave. The constituency's social composition shows strong influence of Rajputs and other upper castes, though Yadav, Muslim, and Dalit communities also play decisive roles in electoral outcomes. In the 2020 assembly elections, BJP's Amarendra Pratap Singh reclaimed the seat by defeating Communist Party candidate Reyazuddin Ansari. Singh secured 71,781 votes against Ansari's 68,779 votes, winning by a margin of approximately 3,000 votes in a closely contested battle.
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