Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP and JD(U) during a rally in Bihar's East Champaran district, claiming that the state's youth have made up their minds to "oust the NDA from power and elect a chief minister who will give jobs, not jumla".

Polling was underway at a moderate pace on Thursday across 121 assembly constituencies of Bihar, where 53.77 per cent of 3.75 crore voters had exercised their franchise till 3 pm to decide the fate of over 1,000 candidates, even as Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by RJD supporters in his home turf Lakhisarai.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the BJP will try to “steal votes” in the Bihar assembly polls with all its might, and it is the responsibility of the youth to act against it.

 A total of 42.31 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "hydrogen bomb" remark over alleged vote theft has turned out to be just a "small firecracker".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday charged the opposition RJD-Congress combine in Bihar with having a soft corner for infiltrators, but "dislike" for Lord Ram and 'Chhathi Maiya' because of vote bank politics.

A total of 27.65 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.