Bihar sees record 64.66% voter turnout in first phase of Assembly elections. CM Nitish Kumar thanks voters and urges participation in the second phase

New Delhi: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hailed the people of Bihar for the record-breaking voter participation on Friday following the conclusion of the first round of the elections.

“My heartfelt thanks to the people of Bihar for the record voter turnout in the first phase,” CM Nitish Kumar posted on the social media site X. In recent years, Bihar has achieved previously unheard-of progress. The moment has come for Bihar to join the most advanced states.

“Voting is not only our right but also our responsibility in a democracy,” he continued. In order for Bihar to advance even farther, the people of Bihar are asked to cast their ballots with the same fervor on the 11th for the second round. Everyone should grow and be treated with respect. According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, the first round of the Bihar Assembly elections ended smoothly on Thursday with the highest voter turnout in the state’s electoral history—64.66 percent.

3,75,13,302 voters cast ballots in 121 Assembly constituencies spread over 18 districts, comprising 1,98,35,325 male, 1,76,77,219 female, and 758 third-gender voters.

There are now 45,341 polling places in the state, with 8608 in urban regions and 36,733 in rural areas.

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According to State Police Nodal Officer Kundan Krishnan and Additional Director General (Law and Order), there were only two minor incidents during the polling process. Villagers in the Halsi block of the Lakhisarai district are accused of throwing mud at the convoy of BJP candidate and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha in one instance.

In a separate incident, unknown individuals broke the window of a CPI(M) MLA’s car in the Saran district’s Daudnagar hamlet.

More than 4,000 cartridges and 850 weapons have been recovered by officials since the Model Code of Conduct was put into effect, according to Krishnan. He claimed that the tranquil environment was greatly enhanced by the presence of 500 Central Armed Police Forces companies, the Bihar Police, and more night patrols. By 11.20 p.m. on Wednesday, almost four lakh poll workers had arrived at their stations.

With 67,902 polling agents representing 1,314 candidates (including 1,192 male and 122 female candidates) in the race, mock polls were finished by 7 a.m. on Thursday. Polling at all 45,341 booths started at the same time.

In order to help identify female voters wearing burqas, more than 90,000 Jeevika Didis and CAPF officers were positioned across polling places.