Voting is underway in seven assembly constituencies of Bhojpur district in Bihar as part of the first phase of the state assembly elections. The polling began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM. By 11 AM, approximately 26.62 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots. The district has a total electorate of 20,98,535 voters, including 11,14,277 male voters, 9,84,129 female voters, and 29 third-gender voters. First-time voters between the ages of 18 and 19 number 44,410 in the district. Bollywood actor Pawan Singh, known as the Power Star, was among the prominent personalities who voted early in the day. The seven assembly seats where voting is taking place are Arrah, Sandesh, Barhara, Agiaon, Tarari, Jagdishpur, and Shahpur. A total of 2,551 polling stations have been set up across these constituencies, equipped with webcasting facilities and basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, ramps, electricity, furniture, help desks, and signage. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal United, is contesting against the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), which includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). The BJP has fielded candidates in Arrah, Barhara, Tarari, Agiaon, and Shahpur, while JDU is contesting from Sandesh and Jagdishpur. The RJD has candidates in Sandesh, Jagdishpur, Barhara, and Shahpur, with CPI (ML) contesting Arrah, Tarari, and Agiaon. Among the 80 candidates in the fray, only three are women: Padma Ojha from Jan Suraaj Party contesting from Shahpur, independent candidate Kajal from Barhara, and independent Sandhya Kumari from Sandesh. Neither the NDA nor the Mahagathbandhan has fielded any female candidates.
Voter Turnout and Electoral Statistics
As of 11 AM, voter turnout across Bhojpur's seven assembly seats reached 26.62 percent. The district has prepared extensively with 2,551 polling booths distributed across the constituencies. Sandesh has 367 polling centers, Barhara has 362, Arrah has 371, Agiaon has 326, Tarari has 376, Jagdishpur has 373, and Shahpur has 376 centers. All stations are equipped with webcasting systems to ensure transparency and proper monitoring. The district administration has made arrangements for voter convenience including drinking water facilities, toilets, ramps for disabled voters, electricity backup, furniture, help desks, and clear signage boards. The total electorate of 20,98,535 comprises predominantly male voters at 11,14,277, followed by 9,84,129 female voters and 29 third-gender voters. Young voters aged between 18 and 19 years constitute 44,410 of the electorate, representing the district's first-time voters who are participating in the democratic process. Popular Bhojpuri film actor Pawan Singh cast his vote, drawing attention to the electoral process. Polling stations opened their doors at 7 AM and will remain operational until 6 PM to accommodate all voters.
Political Alliances and Candidate Distribution
The electoral battle in Bhojpur is primarily between the National Democratic Alliance and the Grand Alliance. Within the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded candidates on four seats including Arrah, Barhara, Tarari, Agiaon, and Shahpur. The Janata Dal United is contesting from Sandesh and Jagdishpur constituencies. On the opposition side, the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated candidates for four seats: Sandesh, Jagdishpur, Barhara, and Shahpur. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation is competing in Arrah, Tarari, and Agiaon. Independent candidates and smaller parties are also in the fray, adding complexity to the electoral contest. The Jan Suraaj Party, a relatively new political formation, has entered the race with candidates in select constituencies. Other parties such as the Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Mahasangh Party, Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha, Socialist Unity Center of India, Jantantra Awaz Party, Gantantrik Samaj Party, Akhil Bharatiya Jansangh, and People's Party of India Democratic have also fielded candidates, though their influence remains limited compared to the major alliances. The multi-cornered contests reflect the diverse political landscape of Bhojpur district.
Women Candidates Remain Underrepresented
Despite having over 9.84 lakh female voters in Bhojpur district, women candidates remain severely underrepresented in the electoral contest. Out of 80 total candidates contesting across the seven assembly seats, only three are women. Neither the National Democratic Alliance nor the Grand Alliance has given tickets to any female candidates, highlighting a significant gender gap in political representation. The only major party to field a woman is the Jan Suraaj Party, which has nominated Padma Ojha from Shahpur constituency. Two other women candidates are contesting as independents: Kajal from Barhara and Sandhya Kumari from Sandesh. This underrepresentation stands in stark contrast to the substantial number of women voters who will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of these elections. Women constitute approximately 47 percent of the total electorate in the district, making their voting preferences significant for any party's success. The lack of women candidates reflects broader challenges in achieving gender parity in political participation across Bihar. Despite various initiatives to encourage women's political engagement, major parties have largely overlooked women candidates while distributing tickets for these assembly elections.
Arrah Constituency Electoral Landscape
Arrah assembly seat has a complex electoral history with shifting political loyalties over the decades. The Congress party won this seat seven times historically, but has not secured victory since 1985. In the year 2000, Amarendra Pratap Singh, son of former Chief Minister Harihar Singh, brought the BJP to power in Arrah. Amarendra Pratap Singh went on to win from this constituency five consecutive times, establishing it as a BJP stronghold. However, in 2015, the seat shifted to the Rashtriya Janata Dal, breaking the BJP's winning streak. The 2020 assembly elections saw Amarendra Pratap Singh reclaim the seat for the BJP with 71,781 votes, defeating CPI (ML) candidate Reyazuddin Ansari who secured 68,779 votes. The constituency has significant influence from Rajput and other upper caste communities, though Yadav, Muslim, and Dalit voters also play decisive roles in determining election outcomes. This year, the contest features BJP's candidate against CPI (ML) nominee, with multiple independent and smaller party candidates also in the race. Other candidates include representatives from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Mahasangh Party, Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha, Socialist Unity Center, and several independent contenders, making it a multi-cornered electoral battle.
Barhara Assembly Seat Dynamics
The Barhara assembly constituency is often referred to as the Chittorgarh of Bihar due to the dominant influence of Rajput voters in the region. The seat has been a stronghold of BJP's Raghavendra Pratap Singh, who won his sixth consecutive term in the 2020 assembly elections. Raghavendra Pratap Singh secured 76,182 votes in that election, defeating Rashtriya Janata Dal's Saroj Yadav who obtained 71,209 votes. The constituency's caste composition includes significant populations of Koiri, Yadav, and Rajput communities, all of whom play important roles in electoral outcomes. The relatively narrow victory margin of approximately 5,000 votes in 2020 indicates that the contest remains competitive despite the BJP's consistent hold over the seat. This year, the BJP has again fielded its candidate while the RJD is making another attempt to recapture the constituency. Ten independent candidates, including Kajal, are also contesting, potentially splitting votes among various factions. The People's Party of India Democratic has nominated Santosh Kumar Singh, while several other independents are trying their luck. The presence of multiple candidates could affect vote consolidation for major parties, making the electoral arithmetic more complex and potentially impacting the final outcome in this traditional BJP bastion.
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