Election rigging mar Bihar polls as Modi’s party seeks victory

India’s eastern state of Bihar has entered the election phase amid political chaos, with allegations of rigging targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party as it eyes victory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party has yet to form a government in the state.

The elections saw a high voter turnout, though official counting of votes has not yet begun. Residents of Bihar are choosing representatives for 243 assembly seats, with many coming out in large numbers to cast their votes.

The Election Commission reported that 64.66% of registered voters participated, the highest the state has witnessed in recent years.

Allegations of rigging emerged after revisions to the electoral rolls. Opposition parties claimed power cuts occurred in their strongholds and that some voters found their votes had already been cast when they arrived at polling stations.

Instances of violence were also reported, and the BJP has been accused of using money and altering voter lists to influence the election outcome.

In September, the Election Commission released a list of 74.2 million voters, excluding 4.7 million names. Opposition parties argue that this move disproportionately affected Muslims and other minority groups, potentially skewing results.

Around 45,341 polling stations were established, with over 400,000 staff managing the voting process. Bihar is among India’s poorest states, where many residents migrate to other states for work.

JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar and RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav are two influential figures who have maintained power in Bihar for decades. Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister and a close ally of Modi, has led the state for most of the last twenty years and played a key role in Modi’s 2025 election victory.