Bihar Records Highest-Ever Voter Turnout at 64.66% in 2025 Polls; Opposition Eyes Anti-Incumbency Wave
PakkaHyderabadi 
Bihar records its highest-ever voter turnout at 64.66% in the first phase of the 2025 Assembly elections.
Patna, Bihar — The first phase of voting for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections has recorded a historic voter turnout of 64.66%, the highest in the state’s electoral history, according to provisional figures released by the Election Commission of India on Sunday.
This surpasses Bihar’s previous Assembly election record of 62.57% in 2000 and even exceeds the state’s highest-ever turnout across all elections — 64.6% recorded in the 1998 Lok Sabha polls.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressed gratitude to voters for “turning out in such large numbers” and thanked election officials for their “dedication and efficiency in ensuring smooth polling.”
47 Lakh Names Deleted — Yet Turnout Surges
The landmark turnout comes amid controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls, which resulted in 47 lakh voter deletions, reducing the total voter base from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore.
Opposition parties — including the RJD and Congress — had accused the ruling alliance of attempting to disenfranchise marginalized voters, traditionally considered opposition supporters.
Analysts note that the reduced voter base could inflate the turnout percentage even if the absolute number of voters remains the same.
A Historic Upswing Across the Day
Compared to the 2020 Assembly election, the 2025 turnout was significantly higher throughout the day:
| Time | 2020 (Phase 1) | 2025 (Phase 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 AM | 7.1% | 13.13% |
| 1 PM | 33.1% | 42.3% |
| 5 PM | 51.8% | 60.1% |
| End of Day | 56.2% | 64.66% |
Election observers said this consistent rise indicates renewed voter enthusiasm, particularly in rural areas and among young voters.
High Turnout: Anti-Incumbency or Enthusiasm?
Historically, high turnouts in Bihar have often signaled anti-incumbency trends, though not always.
- 2010: Nitish Kumar’s JD(U)-BJP alliance won a landslide with 52.73% turnout.
- 2015: JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance rode a 4% higher turnout to victory.
- 2020: The JD(U)-BJP alliance retained power with 57.29% turnout, despite JD(U)’s reduced seat tally.
Political experts say the 2025 surge could favor the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav, who has promised a government job for every household.
However, high turnout doesn’t always indicate anti-incumbency. States like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh saw rising participation between 2008 and 2013 but continued to elect BJP governments.
Phase One: 121 Seats Vote, Big Names in Fray
Polling was held for 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats, with the remaining 122 constituencies voting on November 11. Counting will take place on November 14.
Among key constituencies that voted in this phase:
- Raghopur – Tejashwi Yadav seeks re-election from his family stronghold.
- Tarapur – Deputy CM and BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary contests.
- Alinagar – Folk singer Maithili Thakur represents the BJP.
- Mokama – High drama after JDU candidate Anant Singh’s arrest in a murder case.
In 2020, the RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats, followed closely by the BJP (74), JD(U) (43), and Congress (28).
The outcome of this election’s first phase — with its record-breaking turnout — is now being seen as a crucial indicator of Bihar’s political mood ahead of the final phase.
