65% Voter Turnout Marks Rise in Awareness, Parties Claim Big Wins

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections has recorded an impressive 65.08% voter turnout, signaling a notable increase in civic participation compared to the previous election, which saw 57% overall polling. Election Commission officials clarified that this figure was released after the completion of the Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) process, during which around 69 lakh names were removed from the voter list. Despite this, the turnout indicates a rise in awareness among voters, reflecting positively on the democratic process. Political reactions have begun pouring in from all major parties. NDA leaders, including Chirag Paswan and Samrat Choudhary, have claimed that the alliance will win around 100 seats, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that the NDA could secure more than 160 seats. On the other hand, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav asserted that the high turnout reflects a “vote for change” in Bihar. Analysts attribute the increased turnout partly to the timing of the election, which followed the Chhath festival, when many residents were already home and thus more likely to vote. Ground reports suggest that voters were motivated by a sense of responsibility and hope for development. This surge in participation is being hailed as a positive sign for Bihar’s democratic spirit ahead of the crucial remaining phases.