The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 ended on Thursday with a 60.13% voter turnout, according to the Election Commission. Polling took place across 121 constituencies in 18 districts from 7 AM to 6 PM. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 67.32%, while Sheikhpura saw the lowest at 52.36%. Patna reported 55.02%. The Election Commission said Bihar may achieve its highest-ever voter turnout. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani called it “bumper voting” and predicted change in the state. The main contest is between NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. (PC: HT)

The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 saw a 53.77% voter turnout till 3 PM on Thursday. Polling began at 7 AM across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 59.82%, while Patna saw the lowest at 48.69%. A total of 3.75 crore voters are deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates. The main contest is between the NDA led by Nitish Kumar and the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav, with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party also in the fray. Voting will continue till 6 PM in most areas. (PC: X)

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy was attacked in Lakhisarai on polling day. Unidentified people threw stones, cow dung, and slippers at his car. The BJP blamed RJD supporters for the attack. Sinha said the attackers tried to stop him from visiting Khoriari village and accused the local police of being weak. He demanded deployment of central forces and said he would protest in the village. Police called it a protest by locals and said the situation was under control. The Election Commission has asked the Bihar DGP to take strict action against those involved. (PC: ANI)

The Yadav family cast their votes in Patna during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday. Former chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi were joined by their son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, daughter Misa Bharti, and other family members. They posed for cameras after voting, but Tej Pratap Yadav, who is contesting from Mahua on his own party’s ticket, was not present. The first phase covers 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats, with a triangular contest between the NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. (PC: HT)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) released updated draft electoral rolls for Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, revealing multiple irregularities—photos mismatched and names of the deceased included. The revision follows the ECI’s earlier publication of 74.2 million voters in September, removing 4.7 million names—a move opposed by the opposition who allege targeted disenfranchisement of Muslims, which the ECI and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deny. Analysts emphasise that female voters—nearly half of the electorate—are pivotal, as their turnout continues to rise and parties offer tailored welfare measures to win their support. (PC: Getty Images)

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by displaying a Brazilian model's stock photo at Wednesday's press conference, claiming it appeared 22 times on Haryana electoral rolls as evidence of vote theft. The woman, identified as Larissa, clarified she's never visited India and her old modeling photo was purchased from a stock platform without her involvement. The Brazilian digital influencer and hairdresser expressed surprise as her Instagram flooded with Indian followers after the image went viral. She thanked Indian followers for their kindness while clarifying she had no political involvement. Gandhi made these allegations on the eve of Bihar Assembly polls, claiming 2024 Haryana elections were rigged favoring BJP.

Bihar is set for the first phase of assembly elections tomorrow. Around 3.75 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates across 121 seats. Key leaders contesting include RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, Tej Pratap Yadav, and JD(U)’s Shravan Kumar. Voting will cover 18 districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Nalanda. Top leaders like PM Modi and BJP chief JP Nadda have campaigned actively. Security is tight with CAPF and state police deployed. Polling will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm, with some constituencies closing earlier at 5 pm. (PC: HT)

A Haryana woman, Pinky Juginder Kaushik, denied Rahul Gandhi’s charge of “vote chori” after her voter ID allegedly showed a Brazilian model’s photo. Speaking to India Today TV, she said it was only a printing mistake. “I cast my own vote in 2024 using Aadhaar,” she said. Her brother-in-law called the allegations “propaganda.” Another woman, Munish Devi, faced a similar mix-up and said the error came from election data operators, not voters. Rahul Gandhi had alleged large-scale voter fraud with duplicate entries, but the Election Commission rejected his claims, saying no appeals were filed over Haryana’s rolls. (PC: India Today)

The BJP criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he alleged large-scale fake voting in the 2024 Haryana assembly polls. Gandhi claimed in his “H Files” press conference that 25 lakh fake voters helped the BJP win, showing examples of duplicate and foreign voter IDs. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of spreading lies and “colluding with anti-India forces.” BJP spokesperson Radhika Khera mocked his claims, referring to Sonia Gandhi by saying an “Italian woman” also voted in India. The BJP called Gandhi’s remarks political drama aimed at misleading voters ahead of the Bihar election. (PC: PTI)

India Today tracked down Pinky Juginder Kaushik, whose voter ID allegedly featured a Brazilian model's photo in Rahul Gandhi's vote fraud allegations. Pinky denied wrongdoing, explaining a printing error showed another village woman's photo initially. "I cast my vote in 2024 using voter slip and Aadhaar card. There's no vote chori," she stated. Similarly, Munish Devi's family confirmed she voted personally despite photo misprint issues. Both cases involved local printing errors, not fraud. Gandhi alleged 25 lakh "fake votes" cost Congress Haryana's election, claiming a Brazilian model's photo appeared under multiple names. The Election Commission dismissed his claims, noting no appeals were filed against electoral rolls. (PC: India Today & HT)