Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded in Nalanda district, where 58.05 percent of eligible voters exercised their franchise. The district has seven assembly constituencies, with 68 candidates competing across these seats. Their electoral fates are now sealed in electronic voting machines. Nalanda district has a total voter base of 22 lakh 42 thousand 867 citizens, consisting of 11 lakh 81 thousand 613 male voters, 10 lakh 61 thousand 200 female voters, and 54 voters from the third gender category. A notable feature of this election is the participation of 39 thousand 651 first-time young voters aged between 18 and 19 years. Two ministers from the Bihar government are among those contesting from Nalanda constituencies. Dr. Sunil Kumar, who serves as Minister for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, is seeking re-election. Shravan Kumar, the Rural Development Minister, is also in the electoral contest. The voting process was marred by allegations of fraudulent voting in Bihar Sharif and Rajgir assembly areas. Additionally, voters in Mushari village under Harnaut constituency reportedly boycotted the polls. The distribution of seats among alliance partners shows clear strategies, with the National Democratic Alliance fielding candidates from both Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal United. The opposition Grand Alliance has assigned constituencies among Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India, and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Among all candidates, eight are women contesting from various constituencies, representing different political parties and standing as independent candidates.
Voter Demographics and First-Time Participants
Nalanda district recorded a turnout of 58.05 percent from its substantial electorate. The voting population comprises 11 lakh 81 thousand 613 male citizens and 10 lakh 61 thousand 200 female citizens, along with 54 individuals registered as third gender voters. This election marks a significant milestone for democracy as 39 thousand 651 young voters between the ages of 18 and 19 will cast their ballots for the first time. These first-time voters represent the newest generation entering the democratic process and exercising their constitutional rights. The seven assembly constituencies together witnessed the contest of 68 candidates from various political backgrounds. Two serving ministers from the Bihar state cabinet are among those seeking electoral mandate. Dr. Sunil Kumar, holding the portfolio of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, is contesting for re-election. Shravan Kumar, who heads the Rural Development Department as minister, is also competing in this electoral battle. Their presence adds significant political weight to the contests in their respective constituencies, making these races particularly noteworthy in the overall election landscape.
Grand Alliance Constituency Distribution Strategy
The Grand Alliance parties have divided Nalanda's seven constituencies among themselves, though not without internal competition. In Bihar Sharif assembly seat, the alliance faces an unusual situation where Congress and Communist Party of India are contesting against each other. Congress has fielded Umair Khan while CPI has nominated Shivkumar Yadav, also known as Sardar Ji, creating a split in opposition votes. The Rashtriya Janata Dal has deployed candidates in three constituencies: Shakti Singh Yadav from Hilsa, Rakesh Roshan from Islampur, and Ravi Ranjan, known as Chhotu Mukhiya, from Asthawan. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has fielded Vishwanath Chaudhary from Rajgir constituency. Congress party, besides Bihar Sharif, is contesting from two additional seats with Kaushalendra Kumar in Nalanda and Arun Bind in Harnaut. This distribution reflects the complex seat-sharing arrangements within the opposition alliance. Islampur constituency has attracted the highest number of contestants with 13 candidates in the fray, making it the most crowded electoral battle. The varying number of candidates across constituencies indicates different levels of political competition and interest in different assembly segments.
National Democratic Alliance Seat Arrangements
The ruling National Democratic Alliance has adopted a clear division of constituencies between its principal partners. The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting from only one seat in Nalanda district – Bihar Sharif assembly constituency, where Dr. Sunil Kumar is the party's candidate. The remaining six assembly seats have been allocated to Janata Dal United, which forms the majority of NDA's presence in Nalanda. From Asthawan, JDU has fielded Dr. Jitendra Kumar, while Kaushal Kishore is the party's nominee from Rajgir. Harinarayan Singh represents JDU in Harnaut constituency, and Shravan Kumar is contesting from Nalanda seat. Krishna Murari, popularly known as Prem Mukhiya, is the JDU candidate from Hilsa, and Ruhel Ranjan has been given the party ticket from Islampur. This distribution showcases the coalition's strategy of leveraging JDU's stronger regional base across most constituencies while BJP focuses on the district headquarters seat. The alliance's seat-sharing formula reflects the political dynamics and relative strengths of the two parties in different areas. Among all seven constituencies, Asthawan and Rajgir have the fewest candidates with seven each, while other seats witness more crowded contests.
Voting Irregularities and Female Representation
The polling process faced serious challenges in certain areas of Nalanda district. Allegations of bogus voting emerged from Bihar Sharif and Rajgir assembly constituencies, raising concerns about electoral integrity. More significantly, voters in Mushari village under Harnaut constituency staged a complete boycott of the election, refusing to participate in the democratic process. These incidents highlight underlying issues that affected the smooth conduct of polls in specific locations. Despite such challenges, the election witnessed participation from women candidates, though their numbers remain modest. Among the 68 total candidates, only eight are women seeking electoral victory. From Asthawan constituency, Lata Singh and Shabnam Lata are competing. Bihar Sharif has Saraswati Kumari in the contest. Rajgir, which is a reserved constituency, has two female candidates: Anjali Roy and Mano Devi. Islampur constituency sees Tanuja Kumari and Mitu Kumari trying their electoral fortunes. From Nalanda, Kumari Punam Sinha is contesting. The relatively low representation of women candidates indicates ongoing challenges in ensuring gender balance in political participation and electoral competition across these constituencies.
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