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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed full confidence in the NDA’s electoral prospects amid voting in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections, saying the “tremendous enthusiasm of the people” indicates an “unprecedented majority” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a social media post on Twitter, he wrote: “The tremendous enthusiasm of the people in Bihar on the great festival of democracy shows that the NDA is going to get an unprecedented majority in the assembly elections…”
Voting concluded on Thursday in 121 of the 243 assembly constituencies spread across 18 districts of Bihar, recording 64.66 per cent turnout among 3.75 crore eligible voters, deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates (1,192 male, 122 female).
Voting ran from 7 am to 6 pm, although it ended at 5 pm in select sensitive areas due to security reasons.
Till 5 pm, the voting percentage stood at 60.13 per cent, with Begusarai leading at 67.32 per cent and Sheikhupura the lowest at 52.36 per cent.
There were 45,341 polling stations in the first polling phase, including 36,733 in rural areas, 926 managed by all-women teams and 107 managed by persons with disabilities.
The contest unfolded as a triangular battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alongside allies like Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha — and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan, comprising Rashtriya Janata Dal. (RJD), Congress, CPI, CPI-M, CPI-ML Liberation, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party.
Adding a new dynamism, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party started the elections by fielding candidates on all 243 seats.
RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav sought a hat-trick in Raghopur against BJP’s Satish Kumar and Jan Suraaj’s Chanchal Kumar.
BJP Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary contested Tarapur against RJD’s Arun Shah.
JD-U’s Anant Singh (jailed in a murder case) contested from Mokama seat.
Independent MLA Tej Pratap Yadav (Lalu Prasad’s son) ran from Mahua seat against RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan and LJP’s Sanjay Singh.
Other notable leaders included BJP’s Maithili Thakur.
There was sporadic violence throughout the day, with Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleging an attack on his convoy by RJD supporters in Lakhisarai.
The RJD retaliated with claims of voter intimidation and police misconduct in Mohiuddinnagar (booth 106-108) and Sarai, including house entry and threats, with voter boats being stopped in Danapur and urging the Election Commission to intervene.
Prominent leaders voted early; Tejashwi Yadav with family (including Lalu Prasad) in Patna; Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’; and Deputy CM Sinha in Lakhisarai.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged citizens to “vote and inspire others”.
18 districts in this phase: Patna, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Sheikhpura, Nalanda, Buxar, Bhojpur and Bhagalpur (partial).
After the special intensive verification, there were 10.72 lakh new voters out of 3.75 crore voters (1.98 crore male, 1.77 crore female, 758 third gender), reducing the statewide voter list to 7.24 crore.
The issues under scrutiny range from Nitish Kumar’s governance and law-and-order record to Tejashwi’s social justice agenda, caste dynamics and the potential spoiler role of Jan Suraj.
The second phase of voting will be held on November 11 while the counting of votes is to take place on November 14.
–IANS
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