Bihar has scripted a new chapter in its democratic history. The first phase of the state’s Assembly election concluded on a high note, recording a provisional voter turnout of 64.67%, the highest the state has ever witnessed in any election. This enormous turnout has shattered a record that has stood for more than 20 years, indicating a strong popular involvement in the democratic process.
Decoding the Record
The 64.46% provisional figure is more than just a statistic. It surpasses the previous assembly election record of 62.57% set in the year 2000. It even edges past the 64.6% turnout from the 1998 Lok Sabha elections. This election saw over 3.75 crore eligible voters across 121 Assembly Constituencies exercise their franchise. Their votes will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates. Sheikhpura had the lowest polling percentage, while Begusarai led the way.
A Smooth-Running Operation
How did the Election Commission manage such a vast exercise? There were 45,341 polling places where votes were cast, with 36,733 of them being in rural regions. For the first time in Bihar, 100% of these stations were equipped with live webcasting. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, monitored the feed in real-time from the central control room. This ensured immediate oversight and a quick resolution to the 143 complaints received during the day.
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Behind the High Participation
The Election Commission introduced thoughtful steps to make polling easy and inclusive. Around 90,000 ‘Jeevika Didis’ or women volunteers assisted in identifying veiled female voters. Wheelchairs, assistants, and e-rickshaws were available for people with disabilities. Voter slips were revised for clarity, and mobile phone deposit counters were made available. Voting was stress-free since lines were kept short due to the 1,200 voter cap per booth.
Incidents in the Fray
While the overall process was largely smooth, a few incidents of tension were reported. In Lakhisarai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by “goons” of the opposition RJD. He claimed he was in the area after receiving complaints of voters being terrorized. The poll body has sought a detailed report on this incident. Separately, in the Manjhi assembly constituency, the convoy of a sitting CPI(ML) Liberation MLA was also attacked by unidentified persons, though no injuries were reported.
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A Global and Local Affair
Who was watching Bihar’s elections? The polling also had an international audience. As part of the International Election Visitors’ Programme, 16 foreign delegates from six countries visited Bihar to witness the proceedings. The EC stated that these delegates hailed the elections as being among the most well-organised, transparent, and participative they had seen internationally.
