50% turnout in Bihar 5th phase polls
Defying a Maoist boycott call, 50 percent of the total 8 million voters cast their ballots peacefully in the fifth phase of polls in Bihar on Tuesday.
A total of 35 constituencies of the 243-seat Bihar Assembly went to polls in the penultimate phase of the staggered six-phase Bihar elections amid heavy security arrangements.
“There was no untoward incident during the day,” a senior police official told IBNS.
The Election Commission said 50 percent turnout was reported during the day.
To restore the voters confidence against the Moaists threats, the Election Commission had reduced timing for an hour in at least 17 constituencies dominated by the red rebels.
There were 490 aspirants in this phase, including 44 women.
While voting took place from 7am to 3pm at Rajauli, Govindpur, Arwal, Kurtha, Jehanabad, Ghoshi, Makhdumpur, Bodh Gaya, Phulwari, Masaurhi, Paliganj, Bikram, Islampur and Atri, the electorate in Hilsa, Belaganj and Wazirganj voted till 4pm.
Border Security Force’s helicopters and mounted policemen are on patrol and forces of Central Reserve Police Force and BSF have been deployed in all sensitive segments.
Bihar chief electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh said balloting took place in 9,143 polling stations.
The highest number of candidates was in Gaya Town at 21, while the lowest, of eight, was in Shahpur in Bhojpur district.
The Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress had fielded candidates in all the 35 constituencies while ruling Janata Dal-United had fielded in 22, its allly Bharatiya Janata Party in 13, opposition Rastriya Janata Dal in 20, its ally Lokshakti Janata Party in 15, Communist Party of India- Marxist-Leninist in 23, Nationalist Congress Party in 25, Communist Party of India at seven and Communist Party of India- Marxist in 2.
Nalanda is Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home district. Harnaut is his home town from where HRD minister Harinarayan Singh is the JD(U) nominee.
Other ministers in the fray are Jiten Ram Manjhi (Makhdumpur), rural development minister Sribhagwan Singh Kushwaha (Jagdishpur), road construction minister Prem Kumar (Gaya Town) and JD(U) chief whip in Bihar assembly Shrawan Kumar (Nalanda).
Former state Congress president Ramjatan Sinha tried his luck from Jehanabad.
The last phase of the election for 26 seats is on Nov 20. The votes would be counted on Nov 24.
