Bihar Election: Over 18% Turnout As of 11 AM with 1,066 Candidates’ Fates in the Balance

Over 18.3% voter turnout was recorded till 11 AM in the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said in its provisional data.

A total of 71 assembly segments of the state's 243 constituencies are voting in the first phase, in which nearly 2.15 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of over 1,000 candidates.

According to the provisional voter turnout data updated by the Election Commission at 11 AM, 18.31% of the total electorate have exercised their franchise.

The 71 constituencies are spread across 16 districts.

The maximum turnout of 26.76% (as of 11 AM) has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Nawada (23.42%) and Banka (22.58%).

Among other districts, Buxar had recorded a 19.10% turnout, Gaya was at 19.02%, Aurangabad at 18.46%, Sheikhpura at 17.31%, Kaimur (Bhabua) 16.98% and Bhojpur at 16.21%.

Munger recorded a turnout of 15.71%, Rohtas 15.32%, Arwal 14.81%, Jamui 13.91%, Jehanabad 11.39%, Bhagalpur 6.84% and Patna at 5.96%. It is to be noted that all the figures are as of 11 AM this morning.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Lakhisarai. Former Bihar chief minister and HAM president, Jitan Ram Manjhi, exercised his franchise at a booth in Gaya.

Of the total 2,14,84,787 electors eligible to exercise their franchise, 1,12,76,396 are male voters, 1,01,29,101 are female electors and 599 are in third gender category, according to data provided by the Election Commission. There are 78,691 service electors.

A total of 1,066 candidates – 952 men and 114 women – are in the fray in the first phase of elections being held in constituencies spread across 16 districts.

Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for safe conduct of the electoral exercise in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

These guidelines include lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering the polling hours and extending postal ballot facility to those above 80.

Sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and the availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water has also to be ensured at polling stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to follow all COVID-19 norms while going to cast their votes.

“I urge all voters to ensure their participation in this festival of democracy taking all COVID-19 related precautions. Keep ‘do gaj ki doori’ (maintain a distance of two yards,) and wear mask mandatorily. Voting first, breakfast later,” he tweeted.

As polling began, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to cast their votes in favour of the Mahagathbandhan for “justice, employment and farmers-workers”. “This time for justice, employment, farmers-workers, your vote should be only for 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance)," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

“Good wishes to all of you on the first phase of Bihar elections,” he tweeted with the hashtag in Hindi 'Aaj Badlega Bihar'.

RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav urged people to vote for a better future, education, health, jobs and development for Bihar.

As many as 33 of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase have been declared as “sensitive or hypersensitive” constituencies, the poll panel said.

It said 31,371 polling stations have been set up in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told PTI that paramilitary forces have been deployed in adequate strength at all polling stations and the buildings housing them. The local police has also been used to supplement the paramilitary forces wherever required, he said, adding the services of home guard jawans will also be taken at polling stations for works like maintaining the queue.

He said that as a precautionary measure, all security personnel deployed on poll duty have been given a coronavirus kit which has a face mask, gloves, a face shield and sanitisers.

The administration will keep an aerial vigil and one helicopter will be used for the purpose, he said.

The second and the third phase of polls are scheduled for November 3 and November 7. The results will be announced on November 10.