"Common man is with PM Modi, Nitish Kumar": BJP candidate Sanjay Saraogi eyes sixth term from Darbhanga

Darbhanga (Bihar) [India], November 6 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) five time MLA and current candidate from Darbhanga, Sanjay Saraogi on Thursday expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, claiming that "people have made up their minds" and are supporting the Modi-Nitish duo for the state.
"The public has come to vote with their minds made up to form the NDA government. The common man is with PM Modi and NDA," Saraogi told ANI.
While expressing confidence in the NDA forming a majority government, he said that the people of Bihar have come to vote for development.
"The people are voting in the name of development. It looks like NDA will form the government with a majority. I have been a five-time MLA from here, and I will win the sixth time too," he said.
Saraogi is a five time MLA from the Darbhanga constituency under the Darbhanga district in the state. He has won the 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 assembly elections. On the other hand, the incumbent is set to contest against Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidate Umesh Sahani and Jan Suraaj candidate Rakesh Mishra. Darbhanga is considered as a stronghold of the BJP. However, in 2000the seat belonged to the RJD.
Saraogi won the 2020 elections by a margin of nearly 11 thousand votes, getting around 84 thousand votes.
Meanwhile, a voter turnout of 13.13 per cent was recorded till 9 am in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, according to the Election Commission of India.
The highest voter turnout of 15.27 per cent was recorded in Saharsa district of the state among all districts, while Lakhisarai recorded a sluggish turnout of 7 per cent.
Darbhanga district recorded 12.48% voter turnout, followed by 3.11 per cent in Bhojpur, 13.28 per cent in Buxar, 13.97 per cent in Gopalganj, 14.15 per cent in Khagaria, among others.
Voting for the first phase of the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar began today at 7.00 am across 121 constituencies in 18 districts of the state's 243 seats, with approximately 3.75 crore electors casting their ballot.
Polling will conclude at 6 pm, and due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in some constituencies.
According to the Election Commission, there are 10.72 lakh 'new electors' and 7.78 lakh voters are in the age group of 18-19 years. The total population of these constituencies, as stated by the Election Commission, is 6.60 crore.
There are total of 122 women candidates in the fray in the first phase of polls.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, polling took place in three phases. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 125 seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) won 110. Among the major parties, the Janata Dal (United) bagged 43 seats and the Congress 19. The JD(U) had contested 115 constituencies and the BJP 110, whereas the RJD contested 144 seats and the Congress 70. (ANI)