The BJP mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for going on a jungle safari in Madhya Pradesh while Bihar polls are underway. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “For Rahul Gandhi, LoP means Leader of Partying,” accusing him of taking a vacation during elections. Rahul visited Pachmarhi for a Congress training camp and went on a morning safari before heading to Bihar for a rally. During his visit, he alleged that the Election Commission and BJP were working together to enable “vote theft” in several states, claiming democracy and the Constitution were under attack. (PC: India Today)

A video from Bihar’s Samastipur showed hundreds of VVPAT slips lying on a roadside, sparking controversy. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed they were from actual voting. However, officials said the slips were from a mock poll held before voting. District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha said some unused slips were not shredded properly. The Election Commission suspended the Assistant Returning Officer for negligence and ordered an FIR. Officials confirmed that the incident did not affect the voting process. Mock polls are done before voting to test EVMs and VVPATs, and all data is cleared before real voting begins. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that 501 voters were registered at one address in Haryana’s Hodal town has turned out to be a clerical mistake. Local officials said a data entry error by the Booth Level Officer caused several homes to be listed under the same number, House No. 265. The property belongs to local BJP leader Sundar Singh, who confirmed the numbering mix-up. The Palwal administration has launched a door-to-door verification drive to fix voter list errors. Rahul Gandhi had earlier accused the BJP of voter fraud, but officials dismissed the claims as unverified. (PC: India Today)

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed political strategist Prashant Kishor’s potential influence in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, stating that his campaign will have “no impact” on voters. In an interview with NDTV, Yadav said the electoral battle will primarily be between the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and Congress. He further asserted that smaller parties, including the AIMIM, are unlikely to affect the overall outcome. Yadav expressed confidence that people will vote based on governance, employment, and public welfare issues. (PC: NDTV)

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha of Bihar claimed that his convoy was attacked by supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in his constituency of Lakhisarai during the first phase of the assembly election, alleging stones, slippers and cow-dung were hurled. He accused the opposition of orchestrating booth-capturing attempts and vowed retaliation. Local police maintained that voting proceeded peacefully and warranted a thorough investigation. (PC: PTI)

The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 ended on Thursday with a 60.13% voter turnout, according to the Election Commission. Polling took place across 121 constituencies in 18 districts from 7 AM to 6 PM. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 67.32%, while Sheikhpura saw the lowest at 52.36%. Patna reported 55.02%. The Election Commission said Bihar may achieve its highest-ever voter turnout. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani called it “bumper voting” and predicted change in the state. The main contest is between NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. (PC: HT)

The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 saw a 53.77% voter turnout till 3 PM on Thursday. Polling began at 7 AM across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 59.82%, while Patna saw the lowest at 48.69%. A total of 3.75 crore voters are deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates. The main contest is between the NDA led by Nitish Kumar and the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav, with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party also in the fray. Voting will continue till 6 PM in most areas. (PC: X)

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy was attacked in Lakhisarai on polling day. Unidentified people threw stones, cow dung, and slippers at his car. The BJP blamed RJD supporters for the attack. Sinha said the attackers tried to stop him from visiting Khoriari village and accused the local police of being weak. He demanded deployment of central forces and said he would protest in the village. Police called it a protest by locals and said the situation was under control. The Election Commission has asked the Bihar DGP to take strict action against those involved. (PC: ANI)

The Yadav family cast their votes in Patna during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday. Former chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi were joined by their son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, daughter Misa Bharti, and other family members. They posed for cameras after voting, but Tej Pratap Yadav, who is contesting from Mahua on his own party’s ticket, was not present. The first phase covers 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats, with a triangular contest between the NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. (PC: HT)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) released updated draft electoral rolls for Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, revealing multiple irregularities—photos mismatched and names of the deceased included. The revision follows the ECI’s earlier publication of 74.2 million voters in September, removing 4.7 million names—a move opposed by the opposition who allege targeted disenfranchisement of Muslims, which the ECI and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deny. Analysts emphasise that female voters—nearly half of the electorate—are pivotal, as their turnout continues to rise and parties offer tailored welfare measures to win their support. (PC: Getty Images)