Patna, Nov. 6 -- Bihar Assembly speaker and BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav voted at a polling booth in Patna Sahib Assembly Constituency on Thursday in the first phase of assembly elections, urging people to exercise their franchise in the festival of democracy.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said, "This is the festival of democracy. I appeal to everyone to come out and vote to form a good government in Bihar. Everyone must exercise their right to vote."

The BJP has fielded 45-year-old Ratnesh Kumar (also known as Ratnesh Khushwaha) for the seat, while the Congress has fielded 34-year-old Shashant Shekhar from the Patna Sahib constituency.

The Patna Sahib seat has been a BJP stronghold since 2010, with Nand Kishore Yadav, the current Spea...