Voting Underway for Final Phase of Bihar Assembly Elections Across 122 Constituencies

Polling began at 7am today amid tight security arrangements for second and final phase of Bihar assembly elections in 122 seats where 3.70 crores electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise to seal fates of 1302 candidates in EVMs.

A large number of voters were seen waiting for their turn in long queues to cast their votes at polling stations in both urban and rural areas. Women and first time voters were seen more enthusiastic to cast their votes.

According to office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), polling began at peaceful note. No report of any untoward incident has been received from any assembly seat so far. Out of 122 seats where polling is in progress, BJP had won 42, RJD 33, JD(U) 20, Congress 11, CPI(ML) 05, AIMIM 05, HAM 04 while BSP and Independent had won one seat each in 2020 Bihar assembly elections in 243 member House.

After record polling of 65.08 percent during first phase of Bihar assembly elections in 121 seats on November 06, which is highest ever voting in the state since 1951, all political parties have urged people to come out from their homes in large number to cast their votes and ensure record breaking polling in second phase as well in 122 seats, maintaining that high polling percentage would go in their favour.

Most of seats where electorate will cast their votes to seal fates of 1302 candidates are located in border areas, either with Nepal or neighbouring states including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Star candidates of NDA whose fates would be sealed by electorate in EVMs on November 11 are-- former Deputy Chief Ministers Tarkishore Prasad, Renu Devi, Bihar Ministers-- Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Dr Prem Kumar, Neeraj Kumar Singh, Ms Lasy Singh, Nitish Mishra, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Sumit Kumar Singh, Jayantraj, Vijay Kumar Mandal, Mohammad Jama Khan and Sheela Mandal.

Similarly from Grand Alliance, former Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary, former union Ministers Jaiprakash Yadav, former MP Santosh Kushwaha, Leader of Congress Legislature party in Assembly Mohammad Shakeel Ahmad Khan and president of Bihar unit of AIMIM Akhtarul Iman Polling will end at 6 pm in all 122 constituencies barring some booths in 20 constituencies where polling will conclude at 5 pm due to security reasons.

Assembly constituencies where polling would come to an end at some booths are--Kutumba, Belhar, Chainpur, Chenari, Goh, Nabinagar, Kutumba, Aurangabad, Rafiganj, Gurua, Sherghati, Imamganj, Barachatti, Bodh Gaya, Rajauli, Govindpur, Sikandra, Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai.

In NDA, BJP has fielded its candidates in 53 seats, JD(U) 44, LJP(RV) 15, RLM 04, HAM 06 while in Grand Alliance, RJD has fielded 71 candidates, Congress 37, VIP 07, CPI(ML) 06, CPI 04 and CPI(M) 01. In Mohania seat, RJD had fielded Sweta Suman as its candidate but her nomination paper was cancelled following which party supported Independent candidate Ravi Shankar Paswan, son of former MP Chhedi Paswan.

Similarly, in Sugauli seat, nomination paper of VIP candidate Shashi Bhushan Singh was cancelled and party has supported Shyam Kishor Bharti, a candidate of Janshakti Janata Dal, a party floated by Tej Pratap Yadav, a former Minister and son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Jan Suraaj has fielded its candidates in 120 of 122 seats where polling would be held during second phase.

A total of 3,70,13,556 electorate including 1,95,44,041 Males, 1,74,68,572 Females and 943 third genders are eligible to exercise their franchise at 45,399 polling stations amid tight security arrangements in 122 constituencies on November 11. Among those who are eligible to cast their votes, 6,255 are Centenarians. Maximum of 3,67, 667 electorate are in Hisua while minimum 2,47,574 electorate are in Makhdumpur seat. Number of all women managed booths is 595 while number of model polling stations is 316. Maximum number of 22 candidates each are contesting from Chainpur, Sasaram and Gaya Town while minimum 05 candidates each are contesting from Lauriya, Chanpatia, Raxaul, Sugauli, Triveniganj and Banmankhi. Director General of Police Vinay Kumar said that fool proof security arrangements had been made for free, fair and peaceful polling in 122 constituencies during second phase of Bihar assembly elections.

A total of 1650 companies of Central Security Forces had been deployed while adequate number of BMP jawans were also be on duty to ensure trouble free polling, he added.

Forces for patrolling through boats in rivers had also been deployed to prevent movement of anti social elements using waterways to create disturbance in polling, he informed.

" Special security arrangements have been made for seven districts along the Indo-Nepal border to check any infiltration of criminals to disturb the polling ", DGP said adding that extra care was being taken in districts of Bihar bordering with Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. International border with Nepal had been sealed for seventy two hours since Saturday, he stated.

After New Delhi blast on Monday evening, seecurity had been beefed further in all 122 constituencies where polling was in progress, he informed.

In 2020 Bihar assembly elections, NDA constituents-- BJP had won won toal of 74 seats, JD(U) 43 while VIP 04 and HAM had won 04 seats each. VIP was part of NDA in 2020 assembly elections but now it is part of NDA.

Similarly, in Grand Alliance, RJD had won 75 seats, Congress 19, CPI(ML)12 while CPI and CPI(M) had won one seat each. AIMIM had won 5 seats while BSP and LJP had won seat each. Similarly, one Independent had also emerged victorious from one seat. Bihar assembly has strength of 243 members.

Polling for first phase of Bihar Assembly elections was held on November 6 in 121 constituencies. Counting of votes would be taken up on November 14.