In the face of relentless attacks on India’s democratic institutions and the Opposition’s narrative of “vote theft", the ongoing Bihar elections have delivered a powerful counter-message — robust public participation. The first phase of the two-stage Assembly election witnessed a record-breaking voter turnout of 65.08 per cent.

This surge was marked by enthusiastic participation from women and young voters. While which party benefits from this high engagement will be determined on results day, the turnout itself represents a significant victory for democratic expression.

High Turnout May Reshape Political Landscape

Voting covered 121 constituencies across 18 districts, and the massive participation could reshape key political equations. While urban centres such as Patna saw slower polling, rural districts including Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai witnessed heavy footfall.

Historically, in Bihar, higher turnout has often favoured the ruling........

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