Bihar polls 2025: Record Phase 1 turnout—who should worry?

Phase 1 of the Bihar polls recorded unprecedented turnout, reshaping early narratives. The analysis examines region-wise trends, women and youth participation, rural-urban splits, and swing constituencies. It weighs implications for NDA and the INDIA bloc, turnout-benefit theories, and campaign issues like jobs, welfare and law and order ahead of Phase 2, outlining who should worry, as turnout patterns emerge cautiously.