Overview
- Officials reported 65.08% turnout in the first phase across 121 seats, surpassing the 1998 assembly record of 64.6%.
- The Election Commission said Hajipur strong-room CCTV feeds continued in the control room and called the RJD video misleading, adding a midnight vehicle carried bedding and food for guards.
- Union home minister Amit Shah told Aaj Tak the contest is one-sided and predicted the NDA would cross 160 seats, citing high participation as a favorable signal.
- Opposition parties highlighted a viral photo to allege duplicate voting and broader malpractice, while BJP’s Rakesh Sinha rejected claims of double voting and said his name was only on Bihar rolls.
- Ground reporting from Banka described gaps in toilets, piped water and access to nearby colleges for girls, and the second round of voting is scheduled for Nov. 11 with counting on Nov. 14.