Bihar kicked off its high-stakes assembly elections Thursday with the first phase covering 121 seats across 18 districts. A solid 27.65 percent voter turnout was recorded by 11 am among over 3.75 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates. Polling began at 7 am under heavy security at 45,341 booths and ends at 5 pm in sensitive zones. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged citizens to vote and motivate others while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a festival of democracy and predicted a massive NDA win. Begusarai topped turnout at 30.37 percent while Patna lagged at 23.71 percent.

The Yadav clan made an early splash with Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi proudly showing inked fingers in a viral family photo. Lalu posted that the roti must keep turning on the tawa or it burns and declared 20 years too long for the old guard. He pushed for a Tejashwi-led youth government to build a new Bihar. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary claimed a thumping NDA majority and LJP chief Chirag Paswan demanded record participation. BJP singer candidate Maithili Thakur and actor Pawan Singh also voted with Singh stressing development-focused choices.

PM Modi rallied voters for full enthusiasm to sustain good governance and a developed state. The NDA leaned on star power from Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda who squashed last-minute rumors of dropping 74-year-old Nitish Kumar. Shah and Nadda publicly reaffirmed his leadership despite JD(U) playing second fiddle to BJP. Meanwhile the opposition Mahagathbandhan banks on anti-incumbency and Tejashwi’s promise of one job per household totaling 1.3 crore posts to tackle unemployment and migration.

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Congress struggled with a muted campaign after Rahul Gandhi’s early joint march with Tejashwi faded into two months of silence. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party emerged as the wildcard contesting every seat and targeting corruption and crumbling services. Kishor predicted either under 10 or over 150 seats and ruled out alliances. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged votes for jobs, education, health, and democracy protection.

The contest centers on unemployment, migration, graft, education, and healthcare. Tejashwi’s massive jobs pledge clashes with NDA claims of fiscal impossibility after two decades in power. The alliance counters with 1 crore jobs and 1 crore lakhpati women. Central Bihar where the Grand Alliance won 63 seats in 2020 against NDA’s 55 holds the key. Results on November 14 will reveal if voters favor continuity or a youth surge.

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