Bihar, the land that gave democracy to the world, has set a new electoral record. The first phase of polling across 121 assembly seats saw a 64.66% voter turnout — the highest in the state’s history. Officials expect the final figure to rise as data from over 3,000 booths is still pending. Nearly 65% of Bihar’s 3.75 crore voters across 18 districts cast their votes, marking a 10% jump from the previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
The high turnout has stirred both excitement and anxiety within political circles. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s NDA and Tejashwi Yadav’s Grand Alliance are both closely watching the numbers. Analysts say a surge in voting often signals strong public sentiment, though past trends in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi show mixed outcomes.
Many believe the rise may also be linked to the Election Commission’s recent voter list cleanup, which removed 6.5 million inactive names. The last time Bihar saw a turnout close to this was in 1998 at 64.60%. With 52 seats in 2020 decided by less than 5,000 votes, this year’s record participation could shift the state’s political balance.
