The political temperature in Bihar has soared as the first phase of the 2025 Assembly elections concluded, drawing record voter participation and fierce allegations from all sides. The contest, already high-stakes, has been overshadowed by claims of electoral fraud, a surge in voter turnout, and a flurry of bold predictions and counter-accusations from the state’s most prominent leaders.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi set the tone during a rally in Banka, where he launched a blistering attack on the BJP, alleging widespread electoral malpractice. According to India Today, Gandhi claimed, "Many BJP leaders voted in Bihar yesterday, and the same leaders had also voted in the Delhi elections. On one hand, the BJP leaders are being allowed to cast more than one vote, and on the other... Names of those who voted for the Congress are being deleted." He didn’t stop there, asserting that the Congress had produced evidence of "vote chori" or vote theft in Haryana, with 29 lakh fake voters out of 2 crore, and accused the Election Commission of ignoring these concerns.
Gandhi’s remarks crystallized a growing unease among opposition parties about the integrity of the electoral process. RJD MP Manoj Jha echoed these concerns, questioning the Election Commission’s credibility. As reported by India Today, Jha stated, "I believe that if you vote in two or three places in one year, it is not right... Your (Election Commission) job was to purify the electoral vote. You could not do that, ensuring the integrity of it is the Election Commission's job. They could not do that. The question is about that."
Despite these allegations, the Election Commission maintained that the first phase of voting was conducted smoothly and peacefully. In a statement, the Commission reported the highest-ever voter turnout in the state’s history, with 65.8 percent participation—a notable jump of 7.79 percentage points from 2020 and 8.8 points higher than the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The first phase involved 121 constituencies across 18 districts, with an electorate exceeding 3.75 crore. The Commission further clarified that no re-polling was required after scrutiny, finding no discrepancies or malpractice at any polling station.
Meanwhile, the campaign trail has been marked by sharp rhetoric and dramatic predictions. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, speaking to ANI, interpreted the record turnout as a sign that, "change is definitely coming in Bihar." He dismissed political commentators’ predictions and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using fear tactics, particularly invoking the specter of "Jungle Raj"—a reference to the RJD’s past governance. "If you're saying Jungle Raj shouldn't return, but then why should you (NDA)? Jan Suraaj is a new alternative," Kishor asserted.
In another display of confidence, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera declared that the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) was poised to form the next government, with Tejashwi Yadav expected to take oath as Chief Minister on November 14. Tejashwi Yadav himself fanned the winds of change, sharing a video of a massive rally crowd on X and writing, "This is not a crowd; it is the backbone of Bihar. The resolve to change Bihar is visible in every heart. Heartfelt thanks to all of you, the real owners of power."
On the other side, the ruling NDA’s leaders have dismissed the opposition’s optimism. Union Minister Giriraj Singh, for instance, told supporters in Bhagalpur that the NDA would surpass its 2010 record of 206 seats, echoing Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary’s forecast of winning around 110 of the 121 seats contested in the first phase. BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain took aim at Rahul Gandhi’s promise to build a "world-class university" in Bihar, arguing that the work on Vikramshila University was already underway and that Gandhi was being "misinformed by his team."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing rallies in Bhabhua, thanked Bihar’s "matri shakti"—women voters—for their enthusiastic participation, interpreting it as a mandate for good governance. Modi also took the opportunity to lambast the opposition, particularly the RJD, whom he accused of wanting to "rob the public at gunpoint." In his words, "You can imagine why these Jungle Raj people are so desperate to return to power. They don't want to serve the public. They want to rob the public at gunpoint, rob them... This is their plan..."
The Mahagathbandhan, however, is not without its own internal drama. Tej Pratap Yadav, the estranged elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, was seen at Patna airport alongside BJP MP Ravi Kishan, sparking speculation about shifting allegiances. Tej Pratap downplayed the encounter, saying, "It is just that I am meeting Ravi Kishan for the first time. Of course, he and I are on the same page when it comes to our devotion to Lord Shiva. Both of us wear the tika on our foreheads."
RJD MP Sudhakar Singh stoked further controversy by likening the BJP and RSS to "the new British," asserting that the Mahagathbandhan would win around 70 seats and that the BJP had "no agenda left." He challenged the ruling party to focus on issues like hunger, illiteracy, and poverty, rather than imposing the "Gujarat model" across the country.
Elsewhere, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav weighed in, claiming that the Mahagathbandhan had already gained a clear edge after the first phase of polling. Speaking in Nasriganj, Rohtas, Yadav said, "The way the wave has turned in favour of the Mahagathbandhan shows Bihar wants a young chief minister this time, which is why there was bumper voting in the first phase." He also accused the government of attempting to "steal votes," but insisted that the opposition alliance had taken the lead.
The election has not been without its share of minor controversies. Four voters were booked for photographing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Ara, Gopalganj, and Saran, and posting the images on social media. Authorities acted swiftly to address the incidents, underscoring the heightened scrutiny on the conduct of the polls.
Amid all this, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge framed the election as a fight to "save democracy," criticizing Prime Minister Modi for policies that have, according to him, doubled the cost of LPG cylinders and burdened ordinary households. Kharge urged voters to support Congress in its struggle for justice and economic relief.
With the first phase concluded and turnout at an all-time high, Bihar’s political landscape is crackling with anticipation. Both sides have declared themselves confident victors, but the allegations of fraud, the record participation, and the electric atmosphere on the ground suggest that the real result may still surprise everyone. As the campaign barrels forward, all eyes are on Bihar—a state where, this year, every vote truly seems to count.
