BIHAR SCRIPTS RECORD POLLING WITH 64.66% TURNOUT

Bihar logged a record 64.66% turnout in phase one of its Assembly polls, amid peaceful voting and sharp political crossfire.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA/TIKAM SHARMA/TDG NETWORK

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded on Thursday with a record 64.66% voter turnout—the highest ever in the state’s electoral history, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Polling was held across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, covering over 3.75 crore registered voters. Officials said the figure could rise further as data from 1,570 polling stations was still being uploaded late Thursday night.

The Commission described the day’s polling as “peaceful and festive”, aided by 100% live webcast: ing that allowed real-time monitoring. Over four lakh polling personnel were deployed across 45,341 polling stations, assisted by more than 90,000 Jeevika Didis and CAPF personnel who helped purdahobserving women voters. Sixteen international observers from six countries lauded the process as transparent and participatory.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar congratulated Bihar's. electorate for turning out "in historic numbers since 1951" and expressed gratitude to the poll staff for "working with transparency and dedication." The ECI said its new cap of 1,200 voters per booth helped ease crowding, while redesigned voter slips, candidate photographs on EVMs, mobile deposit counters, e-rickshaw assistance and wheelchair support made voting more convenient.