Patna : Defying Maoist boycott call, nearly 15 per cent of some 8 million voters cast their ballots in first two hours as 35 Assembly constituencies that went to polls for the fifth phase of Bihar elections on Tuesday amid heavy security arrangements.
To restore the voters confidence against the Moaists threats, the Election Commission has reduced timing for an hour in at least 17 constituencies dominated by the red rebels.
The EC officials said nearly 15 per cent of the 81,26,072 voters cast ballot in first two hours to elect 35 candidates among the 490 aspirants, 44 of whom are females.
State Director General of Police Neelmani said barring some stray incidents the polling had been so far peaceful in all 8 districts.
While voting is taking 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 can vote until 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.
Other centres will have polling till 5pm, including seven in Bhojpur, four seats in Patna, five each in Nawada and Gaya, three in Jehanabad, seven in Nalanda and two each in Arwal and Sheikhpura.
Bihar chief electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh said more than 81 lakh voters, including 37.31 lakh women, will use 11,648 EVMs at 9,143 polling stations to decide the fate of the candidates.
The highest number of 21 candidates is in Gaya Town and the lowest, of eight, is in Shahpur in Bhojpur district.
The Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress have fielded candidates in all the 35 constituencies while ruling Janata Dal-United has fielded 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 is trying his luck from Jehanabad.