On November 6, 2025, voting took place in eight assembly constituencies of Vaishali district in the first phase of Bihar elections. Out of a total of 25,37,104 registered voters, the district recorded an overall turnout of 59.45 percent. A total of 105 candidates contested across these seats, with outcomes awaited. The electoral contest witnessed interesting battles, especially in three seats that drew maximum public attention. In Mahua, former minister Tej Pratap Yadav, expelled from RJD, fought on a JJD party ticket against RJD's Mukesh Roshan and NDA's Sanjay Kumar Singh from Loksabha Janshakti Party. Lalganj saw a direct contest between RJD's Shivani Shukla and BJP's Sanjay Singh. Meanwhile, Raghopur featured Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav of RJD facing BJP's Satish Kumar Singh. The election also highlighted internal rivalries within the Mahagathbandhan alliance, with friendly contests on several seats. In Rajapakar, Congress candidate Pratima Kumari Das competed against CPI's Mohit Paswan. Similarly, in Vaishali constituency, RJD's Ajay Kushwaha faced off against Congress's Sanjeev Kumar Singh. The district administration deployed strict security arrangements at all polling stations, with forces including police officers and CISF personnel stationed at every booth. Several incidents were reported during voting, including voters using makeshift boats to reach polling stations and a woman being wrongly declared dead and initially prevented from casting her vote. The eight constituencies recorded varied turnout percentages, with Patepur leading at 59.47 percent and Rajapakar recording the lowest at 49.91 percent.
Voting Turnout Across Eight Constituencies
The eight assembly seats in Vaishali district recorded different levels of voter participation. Raghopur registered 55.20 percent turnout, while Lalganj saw 54.66 percent voters exercising their franchise. Mahanar constituency recorded 50.53 percent, and Mahua had 52.11 percent voting. The Hajipur seat witnessed 54.22 percent participation. Patepur led with 59.47 percent turnout, marking the highest in the district. Vaishali constituency recorded 52.35 percent, while Rajapakar had the lowest at 49.91 percent. These figures reflect diverse voter engagement across different areas of the district. The district election machinery ensured smooth conduct of polls despite logistical challenges in some remote areas. Officials monitored proceedings continuously through webcasting facilities set up at critical booths. Model polling stations and women-exclusive booths were established to encourage participation. The administration had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate voting, including provision of basic amenities at polling centres. Transport facilities were arranged for elderly and differently-abled voters in several constituencies. Despite varying percentages, the overall turnout of nearly 60 percent indicated significant public interest in the electoral process across Vaishali district.
Key Electoral Battles and Candidates
The electoral landscape featured intense competition between major political formations. In the Mahagathbandhan alliance, RJD fielded candidates on six seats, while Congress and CPI contested one each. RJD's prominent candidates included Tejashwi Yadav from Raghopur, Shivani Shukla from Lalganj, Engineer Ravindra Singh from Mahanar, Mukesh Roshan from Mahua, Dev Kumar Chaurasia from Hajipur, and Prema Chaudhary from Patepur. The NDA alliance saw BJP contesting four seats and JDU three, with Loksabha Janshakti Party fielding one candidate. BJP nominees included Satish Kumar Yadav in Raghopur, Sanjay Singh in Lalganj, Awadesh Kumar Singh in Hajipur, and Lakhendra Kumar Paswan in Patepur. JDU candidates were Umesh Singh Kushwaha from Mahanar, Siddharth Patel from Vaishali, and Mahendra Ram from Rajapakar. The Mahua constituency emerged as particularly intriguing with Tej Pratap Yadav's JJD party entry creating a three-cornered contest. His presence alongside RJD and Loksabha Janshakti Party candidates transformed the seat into a high-profile battleground. Each candidate campaigned vigorously, focusing on local development issues, caste equations, and promises of improved governance.
Internal Contests Within Mahagathbandhan
A significant feature of this election was the friendly fights witnessed within the Mahagathbandhan alliance itself on multiple seats. In Rajapakar assembly constituency, Congress candidate Pratima Kumari Das directly faced CPI's Mohit Paswan, both belonging to the same alliance. Similarly, the Vaishali seat saw RJD's Ajay Kushwaha competing against Congress engineer Sanjeev Kumar Singh. These internal contests reflected seat-sharing complexities and differing strategies among alliance partners. Such situations often create confusion among voters loyal to the broader coalition rather than individual parties. Political analysts observed that these friendly battles could potentially split opposition votes, benefiting NDA candidates in those constituencies. The phenomenon highlighted challenges in alliance coordination and candidate selection processes. Despite being part of the same front, local ambitions and party-specific considerations led to multiple candidates from allied parties contesting against each other. This internal competition added an extra dimension to the electoral arithmetic, making outcome predictions more complex. Both Congress and RJD maintained they were fighting against NDA as the primary opposition, but ground-level realities showed direct competition between partners in specific seats, potentially impacting overall alliance performance.
Security Arrangements and Election Management
District administration implemented comprehensive security measures across all 105 polling stations to ensure free and fair voting. Each booth was assigned dedicated teams comprising approximately 100 to 500 police officers and CISF personnel for security and smooth conduct. Authorities established model booths to showcase best electoral practices and set up exclusive women-managed polling stations to encourage female participation. Advanced webcasting systems were installed at sensitive booths for real-time monitoring by election officials. Senior district officers continuously tracked the voting process throughout the day, addressing any irregularities promptly. Special arrangements were made for accessibility, including ramps and wheelchairs for differently-abled voters. Drinking water, shade, and seating facilities were provided at all centres. The administration coordinated with local police, paramilitary forces, and election observers to maintain law and order. Flying squads and static surveillance teams patrolled vulnerable areas to check any malpractices. Transport arrangements ensured voters from remote hamlets could reach polling stations without difficulty. Medical teams were kept on standby to handle emergencies. The elaborate security apparatus aimed to create an atmosphere of trust, encouraging maximum voter participation while preventing any incidents that could mar the democratic process in the district.
Voting Day Incidents and Challenges
Several unusual incidents marked the voting day across Vaishali district. In certain areas affected by waterlogging, voters demonstrated remarkable determination by using makeshift boats to reach polling stations. These improvised arrangements showcased the commitment of citizens to exercise their democratic rights despite geographical obstacles. Another disturbing incident involved a woman voter who was initially prevented from casting her ballot after being wrongly declared dead in official records. The error caused confusion and distress before being rectified by polling officers. Such cases highlighted gaps in voter list maintenance and the need for more rigorous verification processes. The district recorded 105 candidates contesting across eight seats, with Mahanar having the maximum of 20 candidates and Patepur and Rajapakar having the minimum of 14 each. Hajipur had 21 contenders, Lalganj 14, Vaishali 18, Mahua 19, and Raghopur 17 candidates. Some polling stations witnessed temporary disruptions due to technical glitches in electronic voting machines, which were promptly addressed by technical teams. Despite these challenges, the overall voting process remained largely peaceful, with authorities successfully managing the complex exercise involving over 25 lakh voters across diverse terrains and communities.
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