The first phase of the much-anticipated Bihar Assembly elections is officially underway, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a spirited call for voter participation, especially targeting first-time electors. His clear directive, ‘Pehle matadan, phir jalpan,’ translates to ‘first voting, then refreshments,’ a memorable phrase encouraging early engagement with the ballot.
Prime Minister Modi took to his official X account to encourage citizens across the 121 constituencies participating in the first phase to vote with gusto. He specifically applauded the new generation of voters, those casting their ballot for the first time, urging them to seize this opportunity. A substantial 3.75 crore voters will be making pivotal decisions for 1,314 candidates spread across 18 districts during this opening phase. Polling is scheduled from 7 am to 5 pm, with robust security protocols implemented, including the presence of central forces at sensitive locations to guarantee a fair election. Key contenders in this phase include Tejashwi Yadav, representing the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial aspirations, and the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.