Vaishali, Nov. 6 -- Preparations are in full swing across polling stations in Vaishali district as Bihar heads into the first phase of the Assembly elections today, with voting scheduled in 121 constituencies across 18 districts of the state.

At a polling station in Mahua, election officials were seen conducting final checks on the VVPAT machines and other equipment to ensure smooth polling.

In Mahua, a high-profile contest is underway as Independent MLA and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, faces RJD's Mukesh Kumar Raushan (the sitting MLA), LJP's Sanjay Singh, and Independent Ashma Parveen, the runner-up from the 2020 polls.

Presiding Officer Madhureendra Kumar Singh said, "All necessary ar...