Bihar election registers a record 65% voter turnout
The Bihar election 2025 has witnessed a historical voter turnout of 65 percent in the first phase. Such a massive voter turnout has raised wide political speculations. The main debate is whether these massive votes have gone in favor of NDA or Mahagathbandhan. More specifically, it has raised an acrimonious debate who is going to reap the benefit.
Normally the voter turnout is much lesser. Sudden rise has so shaken the political analysts that their forecasts are now up in the air. The history reveals that in 1990, Lalu Prasad Yadav had rose to power with around 62 percent voter turnout.
Nitish Kumar came into the power with much lesser voter turnout. Indeed, Bihar has registered a record 65% voter turnout in this assembly election, but yet to indicate who will be the triumphant winner.
Emergence of Prashant Kishor might influence the voter turnout
However, the people are ignoring a key factor, the rise of Prashant Kishor and his Jon Suraj Party. Prashant Kishor has become an icon among the youngsters. The rally of Prashant Kishor noticed a remarkable presence of the youths in Bihar.
His slogan, Vote change but caste don’t and his other ideas have been warmly greeted by the Zen G of Bihar. It is certain that Jon Suraj Party will win a sustainable percentage of the votes. Yet it is not quiet clear which party is likely to lose the most votes because of PK (Prashant Kishor)?.
The bi-elections showed that his vote share had helped the NDA alliance, but history may not repeat in the assembly elections. It can sway either way.
Nitish Kumar has congratulated the voters, whereas the RJD and Mahagathbandhan are overwhelmed. They are optimistic that this mammoth turnout may be in reminiscent with the 1990 election, when Lalu Prasad Yadav had stormed in. We should not forget another phase is still left.
One more factor is completely ignored that the special intensive revision (SIR) has eliminated lakhs of voters.
Consequently, the removal of deceased and permanently relocated voters has, by default, made the list thinner. That indirectly means the higher percentage of voter turnaround may be seemingly high, but that does not reflect the actual increase as the figures are glittering today. After all, the dead voters can not caste their votes.
Wait and Watch for the Bihar election result
We must admit that the higher voter turnout is healthy for any democracy. This is the only day, when people can exercise their rights to choose their rulers. If the entire country shows such a huge participation in the holiest festive of democracy, it will ultimately enrich the country.
The history witnessed certain paradoxes. While a large section of citizens of urban or rural areas tend to participate in election, the city-based citizens often lag behind. Such lack of interest is not at all good for the health of the democracy.
We have to wait for the November 14, 2025 to watch who will emerge as the frontrunner. More importantly, whether the new government can erode the negative perception of backward statehood of Bihar.