New Delhi, Nov 6 (NationPress) The estimated voter participation in the initial phase of the Bihar Assembly elections reached 64.66 percent by 8.15 p.m. on Thursday, as officials compiled final voting data from various regions.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised the people of Bihar for achieving a remarkable voter turnout in Phase I of the Assembly Elections, a feat not seen since 1951. He expressed gratitude towards the electors for their trust in the Election Commission of India and their enthusiastic participation in the voting process. Additionally, he acknowledged the election personnel for their commitment to transparency and efficiency.

Initial turnout figures indicated that the first phase of voting in Bihar surpassed the turnout records of the previous three Assembly elections. In 2020, the first phase turnout was 56.1 percent; in 2015, it was 55.9 percent; and in 2010, it was 52.1 percent.

As of 7 p.m., the participation rate was noted at 63.25 percent, reflecting an increase from 60.13 percent, which was recorded by 5 p.m. across 121 seats in 188 districts, according to an election official.

Muzaffarpur district led the turnout statistics with 70.96 percent, followed closely by Samastipur at 70.63 percent and Begusarai at 68.26 percent.

Before 5 p.m., Begusarai topped the charts with 68.26 percent, with Samastipur at 66.65 percent and Madhepura at 65.74 percent.

In the Begusarai district, the Bachhwara seat (AC 142) achieved the highest turnout of 69.67 percent by 5 p.m., as per ECI data.

By 3 p.m., over 53.77 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots. Patna district experienced the lowest activity, with a turnout of only 48.69 percent.

Among the seven Assembly constituencies in Begusarai, Cherai-Bariarpur (AC 141) had the highest turnout at 62.55 percent by 3 p.m., followed by Bachhwara (AC 142) at 60.98 percent and Teghra (AC 143) at 60.27 percent.

Turnout figures in other districts by 3 p.m. were: Bhojpur at 50.07 percent, Buxar at 51.69 percent, Darbhanga at 51.75 percent, Gopalganj at 58.17 percent, Khagaria at 54.77 percent, Lakhisarai at 57.39 percent, Madhepura at 55.96 percent, Munger at 52.17 percent, Muzaffarpur at 58.40 percent, Nalanda at 52.32 percent, Patna at 48.69 percent, Saharsa at 55.22 percent, Samastipur at 56.35 percent, Saran at 54.60 percent, Sheikhpur at 49.37 percent, Siwan at 50.93 percent, and Vaishali at 53.63 percent.

The average voter turnout by 1 p.m. was 42.31 percent across 121 Assembly constituencies in 18 districts, according to the ECI.

A preliminary voter turnout of 27.65 percent was recorded by 11 a.m. on Thursday, across 18 districts, as reported by the Chief Electoral Officer.

A total of 1,314 candidates -- including 1,192 men and 122 women -- are contesting in this phase. The Election Commission revealed that 3.75 crore electors, consisting of 1.98 crore men, 1.76 crore women, and 758 third-gender voters, are eligible to participate across 45,341 polling stations, with 36,733 in rural and 8,608 in urban regions.

The ECI has established 320 model booths, 926 women-managed stations, and 107 managed by persons with disabilities. Webcasting facilities have been implemented at all polling stations for real-time monitoring.

More than 15 battalions of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across 18 districts, with special focus on sensitive and Naxal-affected areas where voting will conclude an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. Mock polling exercises were conducted early in the morning to ensure that all systems were operational before the voting commenced.