52% Biharis vote in first phase of polls
new delhi — The Covid-19 pandemic could not affect voters’ enthusiasm in the first phase of polls in Bihar as the state registered 52.24 per cent turnout till 5pm on Wednesday, the Election Commission of India said here.
Mentioning that the turnout was more than “previous assembly elections as well as Lok Sabha elections”, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said the first phase of elections concluded “very peacefully” with a few “stray incidents”.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said a total of 52.24 per cent turnout was registered by 5pm after the polling at 31,371 polling stations in 71 Assembly segments in 16 districts of Bihar, including 12 Left Wing Extremist (LWE) districts. The polling began at 7am.
As the polling took place at different times depending upon the area, the turnout could be more as polling at some places was on till 6pm.
The elections gathered momentum in the afternoon as the voting started at a sluggish pace due to technical glitches at some of the polling booths.
Violent incidents were reported in some parts of Bihar including in Kaimur district where two groups comprising more than 50 people attacked each other.
They were dispersed by paramilitary force personnel. The situation is now under control. Tekari is another place apart from Ara where an altercation between supporters of two alliances was reported.
The Election Commission had established 31,380 polling booths in 16 districts. There are 1,066 candidates are testing their luck in the first phase.
In all, 41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units and 31,371 VVPATs were deployed in the elections. —
243
Total number of Assembly seats in the state
1,066
Number of candidates who contested in the 1st phase
71
Constituencies went to polls in the first phase on Wednesday
78
Seats will be decided during the third phase on November 7
122
Minimum seats needed to form the govt in Bihar
21.4M
Bihar residents were eligible to vote in the first phase
94
Seats up for grab in the second phase on November 3
10TH
November is when all the votes will be counted