All eyes are on Bihar's Raghopur constituency as counting of votes begins this Friday morning, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav attempting to defend his family bastion against BJP challenger Satish Kumar in a high-stakes battle that could determine Bihar's political future.
High-Stakes Battle for Raghopur
The electoral contest in Raghopur represents more than just another assembly seat - it pits Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav against NDA's Satish Kumar from BJP and Jan Suraaj Party's Chanchal Kumar. Vote counting commenced at 8 AM today, with the Election Commission expected to declare results later in the day.
This election carries immense significance for both alliances. The opposition Mahagathbandhan or INDIA bloc aims to end JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar's two-decade reign as Bihar Chief Minister, while the ruling NDA coalition fights to maintain its hold on power in the state.
Tejashwi's Employment Promise and Campaign Focus
Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav made employment generation the cornerstone of his campaign, promising to enact legislation guaranteeing government jobs for one member of every family. He committed to starting the recruitment process within 20 months if voted to power, a pledge that political observers consider potentially game-changing in employment-starved Bihar.
The Raghopur seat has remained a Yadav family stronghold since RJD founder and Tejashwi's father Lalu Prasad first won it in 1995. The constituency has consistently supported Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav for the past two terms, with the only exception being the 2010-2015 period when JD(U) briefly held the seat.
Record Voter Turnout in Bihar Elections
Bihar witnessed historic participation in this assembly election, recording its highest-ever voter turnout at 66.91% as polling concluded on Tuesday. The women's voting percentage set a remarkable new benchmark at 71.6%, significantly outpacing male voter turnout of 62.8% by 8.8 percentage points.
This substantial gender gap in voter participation, particularly the unprecedented engagement by women voters, could play a decisive role in determining the final outcome in Raghopur and across Bihar's 243 assembly constituencies.
