Bihar Polls Phase 1: NDA vs Mahagathbandhan in high-stakes battle for 121 seats; 53.7 % voting until 3 pm

PTC News Desk: The political future of several ministers, along with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap, will be decided today as Bihar votes in the first phase of the assembly elections. The NDA is up against a revived Mahagathbandhan, while poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is being seen as a surprise factor in the contest.

Voting is taking place in 121 constituencies across 18 districts, most of them south of the Ganga. In 2020, the Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD had won 63 seats compared to the NDA’s 55. Whether the same trend continues this time remains to be seen, especially since this region — which includes Patna — often sets the tone for Bihar politics. Key seats in this phase include Raghopur, where Tejashwi is seeking a third straight win, Mahua, where Tej Pratap is contesting, and Tarapur, from where Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is in the fray.

During campaigning, the RJD and Congress focused on unemployment, poor law and order, and accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of being under BJP’s control. The NDA, meanwhile, revived the “jungle raj” narrative to target the RJD. The election debate has revolved around development, governance, and social justice — essentially a face-off between Nitish Kumar’s track record and Tejashwi Yadav’s promises.

Another major point of interest is Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, which could emerge as a wild card in Bihar’s political landscape. The role of caste dynamics is also expected to play a crucial part in determining the outcome.