PATNA, 6 November (H.S.): Polling for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections commenced at 7 a.m. on Thursday, covering 121 assembly seats across 18 districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate enthusiastically in the democratic process.

On the social media platform X, the Prime Minister posted, Today marks the first phase of the festival of democracy in Bihar. I urge all voters in this round of the assembly elections to vote with full enthusiasm. On this occasion, my special congratulations to all my young friends in the state who are voting for the first time. Remember—first vote, then have breakfast.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Ramnath Thakur, cast his vote at booth number 73 in Karpuri village in Samastipur. After voting, he remarked that he has always voted for development and continued that tradition today as the first phase of polling began in the district.

Several other prominent leaders also exercised their franchise early in the day. Bihar government minister and BJP candidate from Baankipur, Nitin Nabin, cast his ballot at Miller High School, booth numbers 394 and 396, in Patna.

In the Mokama assembly constituency, RJD candidate Veena Devi also cast her vote.

As polling began, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh offered prayers at a temple in his ancestral village of Barahiya in Lakhisarai on Thursday.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar