Bihar Votes Tomorrow : High-Profile Clashes, Celebrity Candidates and 1,314 Contenders in Crucial Phase 1

Patna, Nov 2025: Bihar gears up for a high-stakes political showdown as 121 Assembly constituencies across 18 districts go to polls on Thursday in the first phase of the state elections. With 1,314 candidates in the fray and several heavyweight leaders contesting, the stage is set for an intense electoral battle.

Campaigning for this phase ended on Tuesday evening, and the spotlight now shifts to key constituencies where fierce, multi-cornered contests are expected.

16 Ministers on Ballot, Government’s Report Card at Stake

A total of 16 ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet are contesting in this phase—11 from the BJP and five from the JD(U). Their performance will serve as an important referendum on the government’s governance record, administrative credibility and organisational strength.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is one of the most prominent faces in this round, contesting from Tarapur (Munger). He faces a multi-cornered fight against RJD’s Arun Kumar Sah, Jan Suraaj’s Santosh Kumar Singh, and JJD’s Sukhdev Yadav, making the seat one of the most closely watched.

Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Battle to Retain Their Strongholds

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his brother, Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav, campaigned deep into the night to retain their family strongholds.
Tejashwi’s Raghopur seat in Vaishali, a traditional Yadav bastion, has turned into a high-voltage contest against NDA’s Satish Yadav, while Jan Suraaj’s Chanchal Kumar is emerging as a significant third force.

Mokama in Spotlight: High-Stakes Battle After Criminal Case Ripple Effects

Mokama (Patna Rural) is drawing major attention following the Dularchand Yadav murder case and the subsequent arrest of strongman politician Anant Singh.
The seat pits JD(U)’s Anant Singh against RJD’s Veena Devi, both representing politically influential families. The contest is expected to be one of the most bitterly fought in the phase.

Celebrity Contenders Add Star Power

Two major celebrity candidates are set to test their popularity at the ballot box:

• Maithili Thakur (BJP), the widely loved folk singer, is contesting from Ali Nagar (Darbhanga) against RJD’s Vinod Mishra. Thakur’s cultural influence in Mithilanchal is expected to play a decisive role.
• Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) is fighting from Chhapra (Saran) against BJP’s Chhoti Kumari and Independent candidate Rakhi Gupta, making it another high-profile triangular contest.

Other Key Battles

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha is seeking a third straight victory from Lakhisarai, where he faces Congress candidate Amresh Kumar.

In Begusarai, the BJP has fielded Kundan Kumar against Congress’ Amita Bhushan, where caste equations remain deeply influential.

In Patna’s urban-dominated Bankipur constituency, BJP’s Nitin Nabin, a familiar face, is again contesting to retain the seat.

Districts Voting in Phase 1

Polling will be held in Madhepura, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Nalanda, Patna, Bhojpur, and Buxar.

As Bihar prepares to vote, all eyes remain fixed on whether political legacies, celebrity appeal or governance narratives will dominate the electoral battlefield.