East Champaran, Bihar: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday predicted that the current NDA government in Bihar would be voted out if “fair elections” were conducted in the state. Speaking at a public rally in Govindganj during the ongoing first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, she reiterated allegations of electoral manipulation previously raised by her party, echoing Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s claims of “vote rigging.”

Priyanka Gandhi alleged that 65 lakh votes had been deleted in Bihar, and drew parallels with Haryana, where she claimed 25 lakh “fake votes” were added in recent assembly elections. “The Prime Minister, wherever he goes, accuses opposition leaders of insulting people in states like West Bengal, Kerala, and Bihar. We, on the other hand, are speaking about your rights and empowerment. Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi showed that votes were rigged in Haryana. Today, their arrogance is such that they disrespect your votes. 65 lakh votes have been deleted in Bihar. I can guarantee that if fair elections are conducted here, you will throw this government out and form a new government,” she asserted.

During her speech, Priyanka Gandhi also reflected on a personal childhood memory to highlight what she described as a decline in democratic accountability. She recounted how a woman in Amethi had once scolded her father, the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for not installing a promised water tap in her village. “He was the Prime Minister, but a woman in a village scolded him; she was not afraid. Nowadays, people are fearful. If you demand your rights today, you know the police may beat you and the administration may shut you down. Back then, the foundation of our country’s politics, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, meant that the people were supreme,” she said.

Meanwhile, polling for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections continued across 18 districts, covering 121 assembly constituencies, and will conclude at 6 pm, although in some constituencies, polling hours were curtailed to 5 pm.

As of 1 pm, Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 42.31 per cent, according to Election Commission data. Among districts, Gopalganj recorded the highest turnout at 46.73 per cent, followed by Lakhisarai at 46.37 per cent and Begusarai at 46.02 per cent. Patna registered comparatively lower participation at 37.72 per cent.

Turnout in other districts as of 1 pm included Bhojpur at 41.15 per cent, Buxar 41.10 per cent, Darbhanga 39.35 per cent, Khagaria 42.94 per cent, Madhepura 44.16 per cent, Munger 41.47 per cent, Muzaffarpur 45.41 per cent, Nalanda 41.87 per cent, Saharsa 44.20 per cent, Samastipur 43.03 per cent, Saran 43.06 per cent, Sheikhpura 41.23 per cent, Siwan 41.20 per cent, and Vaishali 42.60 per cent.

Among key constituencies, Raghopur reported 43.3 per cent turnout, Mahua 40.41 per cent, Alinagar 37.50 per cent, Tarapur 44.35 per cent, Lakhisarai 44.20 per cent, Chapra 39.57 per cent, Bankipur 25 per cent, Phulwari 40.98 per cent, Raghunathpur 42.23 per cent, Siwan 40.19 per cent, and Mokama 41.78 per cent.