The high voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has triggered sharp political exchanges, with leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan claiming momentum ahead of the second phase of polling on November 11.

Union minister Ramdas Athawale asserted that the NDA would benefit from the 65.09 per cent turnout recorded across 121 constituencies, calling it “a sign of people’s faith in development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.”

PM Modi praises voter participation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing rallies in Bettiah and Sitamarhi, hailed the record voter participation, describing it as a “65-volt shock to the opposition.” He urged people to continue supporting the NDA, stating, “In the first phase of elections, you have broken all records since independence.”
He further criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), saying Bihar needed “startups, not hands-up” politics. Modi also highlighted NDA’s initiatives in education, including the establishment of new engineering and medical colleges.

Amit Shah warns against ‘return of jungle raj’

Union home minister Amit Shah continued his attack on the opposition during rallies in Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Supaul, warning voters against the “return of jungle raj” under RJD.
In Supaul, he alleged that the RJD and its allies had protected infiltrators, saying, “We will identify infiltrators, delete their names from voter lists, and deport them.” He also recalled violent incidents from the 1990s, saying, “People of Bihar have not forgotten the massacres at Laxmanpur Bathe and Bathani Tola.”

Congress and RJD hit back

Opposition leaders countered the NDA’s claims, accusing the government of failing to deliver on employment and industrial growth. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the BJP’s criticism of “jungle raj”, asking, “Why did they not end it in 20 years?”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra equated the Congress’s political fight to Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle against British rule, while criticising Modi for favouring “corporate friends.”

RJD MP Manoj Jha wrote to the Election Commission, demanding tighter security at EVM strongrooms amid reports of power disruptions. “Such incidents raise doubts about security protocols,” Jha said in his letter.

Allies and new entrants step in

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh joined the NDA’s Bihar campaign, urging voters to deliver a “one-sided mandate” similar to Andhra’s recent polls. “People of Andhra Pradesh have given NDA a 94 per cent mandate. We want the same in Bihar,” he said.

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor dismissed allegations of vote theft, claiming, “Vote chori is not an issue in Bihar. Change is certain.” He questioned Amit Shah’s remark about land scarcity for factories, saying, “If there is land for highways, there is land for industries too.”

Regional leaders rally support

BJP leaders expressed strong optimism over the NDA’s prospects. Rajiv Pratap Rudy declared that “Nitish Kumar is becoming Chief Minister again,” while Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav said the turnout was an “indication that the NDA is leading.”
JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha called the polls “bipolar,” downplaying the chances of smaller outfits like Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. He also said women and Gen Z voters would be “key determinants” of the outcome.

Tensions and incidents

The day also saw a few incidents, including vandalism at a BJP rally in Madhubani after actor Pawan Singh failed to appear. In Samastipur, several VVPAT mock slips were found on a roadside, prompting the suspension of an official and the launch of a departmental inquiry. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary assured that “strict action will be taken against those responsible.”

Conclusion

With the campaign reaching its final stretch, both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan are making last-ditch efforts to sway voters ahead of the second and final phase on November 11. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14, and political temperatures in Bihar are rising sharply as leaders continue to trade allegations and showcase promises of development.