Patna (Bihar) [India], November 6 : BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and his wife Maya Shankar cast their votes at a polling booth in Patna during the first phase of the Bihar polls.
Speaking with reporters after casting his vote, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Bihar election will be "historic and decisive" while dismissing any possibility of Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav winning the election.
"The public is voting with great enthusiasm. They will continue to do so. He [Tejashwi Yadav] just for the sake of it. There is no chance of his becoming the CM. Bihar's result will be historic and decisive," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's allegations of vote theft, he said, "It turned out to be a flop. All his claims turned out to be false. He is an expert in lying."
Earlier, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief and Mahagathbandhan's Deputy Chief Ministerial face Mukesh Sahani, along with his family, cast a vote and urged voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise, calling the people the "true owners of democracy."
Speaking to ANI before casting his vote in Darbhanga, Sahani said, "The public is the owner of democracy. You have the right to elect the Chief Minister of the state and the Prime Minister of the country. Exercise your right to franchise. Step out of your house and vote in large numbers carefully. Did those who were in power earlier fulfil all the promises they made?"
Responding to allegations by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over voter list discrepancies, Sahani said, "The public are the owners of democracy. If there are discrepancies, it is not right."
Meanwhile, a voter turnout of 13.13 per cent was recorded till 9 am in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, according to the Election Commission of India.
The highest voter turnout of 15.27 per cent was recorded in Saharsa district of the state among all districts, while Lakhisarai recorded a sluggish turnout of 7 per cent.
As of 9 am, a voter turnout of 14.60 per cent was recorded in Begusarai district, followed by 13.11 per cent in Bhojpur, 13.28 per cent in Buxar, 12.48 per cent in Darbhanga, 13.97 per cent in Gopalganj, 14.15 per cent in Khagaria, 13.74 per cent in Madhepura, 13.37 per cent in Munger, 14.38 per cent in Muzaffarpur, 12.45 per cent in Nalanda, 11.22 per cent in Patna, 12.86 per cent in Samastipur, 13.30 per cent in Saran, 12.97 per cent in Sheikhpura, 13.35 per cent in Siwan and 14.30 per cent in Vaishali.
The first phase of the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar commenced on Thursday at 7:00 am across 121 constituencies in 18 districts of the state, covering approximately 3.75 crore electors.
Polling will conclude at 6 pm, and due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in some constituencies.
The first phase will decide the fate of several senior leaders, including RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey and JD(U)'s Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Tej Pratap Yadav is also in the fray in the first phase.
In 2020, polling took place in three phases. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had secured 125 seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) won 110.
Among the major parties, the Janata Dal (United) bagged 43 seats, the BJP bagged 74, the RJD secured 75 seats and the Congress 19. The JD(U) contested 115 constituencies, the BJP 110, whereas the RJD contested 144 seats and the Congress 70.