Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 66.91% in the 2025 Assembly elections — a surge of 9.62 percentage points from 2020’s 57.29%. While most exit polls predict a comfortable majority for the ruling NDA, history offers a cautionary note: every time voter turnout has risen by more than five percentage points in Bihar, the incumbent government has been unseated.
A Pattern From The Past
Historical data reveals three such instances:
- 1967: Voter turnout jumped from 44.5% to 51.5% (+7 points) — the Congress government fell, and a non-Congress coalition took over.
- 1980: Turnout rose from 50.5% to 57.3% (+6.8 points) — power changed hands again.
- 1990: Turnout increased from 56.3% to 62% (+5.7 points) — Congress was ousted, and Janata Dal formed the government.
The 2025 turnout has surpassed all previous records, sparking speculation that the anti-incumbency wave may be stronger than exit polls suggest.
Phase-Wise Turnout and Highlights
The first phase saw a turnout of 65.08%, followed by an even higher 68.76% in the second phase.
- Highest turnout constituency: Pranpur (Katihar) – 81.02%
- Lowest turnout constituency: Kumhrar (Patna) – 39.57%
Other high-turnout regions included Thakurganj, Kishanganj, and Kadwa, while urban seats in Patna, Saran, and Siwan recorded below-average participation.
Women Lead The Way
In a significant trend, women voters outnumbered men. The Election Commission reported that 71.6% of women turned out to vote, compared to 62.8% of men — a pattern that has often influenced Bihar’s electoral outcomes in recent years.
What It Means For The NDA
While exit polls show the NDA leading with projections of 150–170 seats out of 243, political analysts caution that high voter turnout can signal a desire for change, particularly in states with long-standing incumbents.
As counting day approaches, all eyes will be on whether Bihar’s record turnout continues its historical trend — heralding a political shake-up once again.