Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded on the evening of November 5, covering 14 assembly seats in Patna district. By 5 PM, the voter turnout recorded was 55.02 percent, with polling stations closing their doors at 6 PM. A total of 149 candidates were in the electoral race across these seats, vying for the support of 48,30,135 registered voters, which included 25,47,931 male and 22,82,047 female voters. The elections witnessed competitive battles across various constituencies, with notable contests drawing significant attention. Key political figures and their families were involved in several high-stakes battles, making this phase particularly important for the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition parties. District administration had implemented a three-layer security system to ensure peaceful polling, with Central Armed Police Forces deployed at all booths alongside static surveillance teams and district forces. A 100-meter perimeter around polling stations was placed under prohibitory orders. Special attention was given to sensitive areas, with senior officials personally overseeing arrangements in Mokama and Barh regions. Webcasting facilities were set up at all booths for real-time monitoring. Mobile phones were not allowed inside polling stations, with token-based collection systems in place. The elections featured several interesting electoral battles, including confrontations between strongmen candidates and contests involving celebrity candidates from different backgrounds.
Major Electoral Battles and Candidate Lineup
The Mokama constituency witnessed a direct clash between two strongmen candidates. Anant Singh from the Janata Dal United was contesting from jail, where he remains imprisoned in connection with the Dularchand murder case. His opponent was Veena Devi from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, wife of Surajbhan Singh. Another significant battle unfolded in Danapur, where Ritlal Yadav and Ramkripal Yadav faced each other, with Ritlal also campaigning from behind bars. The Dighaa constituency saw a unique contest between Sanjeev Chaurasia of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Divya Gautam, sister of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. In Bankipur, Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitin Navin's political fate was being decided. The Fatuha seat emerged as a particularly close race between Roopa Kumari of Lok Janshakti Party (R) and Ramanand Yadav of RJD, with both candidates belonging to the same caste community, intensifying competition among supporters. This constituency also recorded rising voter turnout percentages.
Three-Layer Security Arrangement Implemented
District Magistrate Tyagrajan announced comprehensive security measures for the polling day across Patna's 14 assembly constituencies. Central Armed Police Forces were stationed at every polling booth, supplemented by static surveillance teams and district police forces. A 100-meter radius around each polling station was placed under prohibitory orders to maintain law and order. The security framework operated on three distinct layers to prevent any disturbances. Zonal magistrates were specially appointed at the police station level to handle any arising situations promptly. Polling stations were equipped with facilities for voters to deposit their mobile phones using a token-based system, as phones were strictly prohibited inside voting premises. Large television screens were installed for webcasting, enabling real-time monitoring of the electoral process. Senior officials were given special responsibility for overseeing arrangements in the Mokama and Barh regions, which were identified as areas requiring heightened vigilance. Central Armed Police Force patrols maintained continuous movement in remote riverside areas. Authorities made it clear that any antisocial elements attempting to disturb law and order would face strict action.
Voter Demographics and Constituency Details
Patna district recorded a total voter strength of 48,30,135 eligible voters participating in this electoral phase. The gender-wise breakdown revealed 25,47,931 male voters and 22,82,047 female voters across the 14 constituencies. A total of 149 candidates entered the electoral fray, representing various political parties and independent platforms. The polling infrastructure was set up to accommodate this large voter base, with adequate booth-level arrangements made throughout the district. The voter turnout figures were monitored hourly, with the percentage standing at 55.02 percent by 5 PM. This turnout reflected moderate to good participation from the electorate across different constituencies. Some seats, particularly Fatuha, witnessed higher engagement as the day progressed. The demographic composition varied across constituencies, with urban, semi-urban, and rural areas presenting different voting patterns. Electoral authorities ensured that all facilities, including accessibility for elderly and differently-abled voters, were properly maintained. The diverse candidate field included representatives from major national parties, regional outfits, and smaller political formations, offering voters a wide range of choices.
Notable Constituencies and Close Contests
The Fatuha assembly seat emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in this phase. Roopa Kumari representing Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) faced off against RJD's Ramanand Yadav in what observers described as a knife-edge competition. This seat gained importance as it marked the first instance where an RJD candidate faced such strong opposition. Both candidates sharing the same caste identity added another dimension to the electoral dynamics, creating intense rivalry among their respective supporter bases. Voter turnout in Fatuha showed an upward trend throughout the day. In Bankipur constituency, the electoral fate of sitting minister Nitin Navin kept observers interested. Dighaa witnessed celebrity involvement with Divya Gautam, sister of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, taking on BJP's Sanjeev Chaurasia. This brought additional media attention to the constituency. The Mokama and Danapur seats, featuring candidates with criminal backgrounds contesting from jail, presented unusual electoral scenarios where proxies and family members actively campaigned on behalf of the imprisoned candidates. These contests highlighted various aspects of Bihar's complex political landscape.
Political Claims About Election Results
As voting progressed throughout the day, political leaders began making projections about the overall election outcome. Samrat Chaudhary, a prominent leader from the ruling alliance, expressed confidence about his coalition's performance. He claimed that the National Democratic Alliance was positioned to win 100 out of 121 seats in the assembly elections. Such early claims reflected the high stakes involved in this electoral battle between the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance. Political parties had campaigned intensively across Patna and other districts ahead of polling day. The first phase covered multiple districts beyond Patna, making these 14 seats part of a larger electoral exercise. Leaders from various parties, including BJP, JDU, RJD, and Congress, had addressed numerous rallies and public meetings in the run-up to polling. The electoral contest was seen as a test of popularity for both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government and the opposition led by Tejashwi Yadav. Ground-level workers from all parties remained active throughout polling day, ensuring voter mobilization while adhering to electoral conduct rules. The actual results would determine the accuracy of these early projections and claims.
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