PATNA, Nov. 6 -- With 1,314 candidates in fray for 121 in 18 districts, Bihar will vote in the first phase of assembly elections on Thursday (today). Both the leading alliances -- BJP-JD(U)-led NDA and RJD-Congress-led INDIA bloc -- are slogging out in the poll arena, with fates of several prominent leaders like Opposition's CM face Tejashwi Yadav and deputy chief minister and BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary being at stake. This is the first major electoral exercise after the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. As per new voter lists, around 3.75 crore voters are eligible to vote. Around 1.072 million are "new electors". The number of voters in the age group of 18-19 years is 738,000. Voting will take place at 45,341 polling stations, an overwhelming majority of which (36,733) fall in rural areas. Going by the seat wise analysis, the first phase of polls would witness a direct contest between BJP and RJD in 23 seats including Siwan (where health minister and BJP nominee Mangal Pandey is pitted against former Speaker and RJD nominee Awadh Bihari Choudhary), Tarapur ( where deputy CM and BJP nominee is locked in a straight fight with RJD's Arun Kumar) and Danapur ( where former union minister and BJP nominee Ram Kripal Yadav is locked in a straight fight with RJD's incarcerated MLA and candidate Ritlal Yadav). In Raghopur too, opposition leader and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, seeking a third term from this seat, is pitted against BJP's former MLA Satish Kumar in a straight fight with Jan Suraaj too having put its candidate in the poll arena. Similarly, there are at least 33 seats where ruling Janata Dal (United) and Opposition RJD are locked in a straight fight while in around 10 seats, JD(U) is in a contest with Congress candidates. In over 30 seats, there would be contest among the various allies of NDA like LJV(RV),HAM(S) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha and INDIA bloc including Left parties, Vikasheeel Insaan Party and Indian Inclusive Party (IPP). All the leading parties have pivoted their campaigns around issues that largely deal with welfare through various schemes, especially for women and youth. At the same time, the caste arithmetics have been carefully chalked out by parties that often reflect in their choice of candidates. From this point of view, the ruling NDA is banking hard on their Upper Caste, OBC, EBCs and Dalit vote base even as the Opposition Mahagathbadhan especially the senior most ally, RJD this time is hinging on its " Muslim-Yadav" poll combination along with OBC Kushwahas, women and upper castes mainly Bhumihar apart from scheduled caste and section of EBCs caste groups like Nishads (fishermen community) and Tanti-Tatwa( weavers trading community). "The first phase of polls would be a test of both caste and poll agenda of the BJP and Mahagathbandhan as both the coalitions have pitched hard on the development agenda. But this time, there are possibilities the job promise made by RJD and NDA could be an influencing factor especially for the Gen Z , the voters in the age group of 18-28 who want employment and better lifestyle. So, this group may vote transcending caste barriers to vote on ground issues," said D M Diwakar, political observer and former director of A N Sinha Institute of Social Sciences....