52 pc turnout in Bihar 2nd phase polls

Patna : Under the shadow of Maoist violence and boycott call, Bihar went for the second round of polling on Sunday in the staggered six-phase elections, registering over 52 percent turnout.

“The polling is more than 52 percent despite threats by the Naxals,” a senior police official told IBNS.

He said three polling officials, who went missing after armed Maoists raided the polling centre at Subaigarh in Runisaidpur constituency under Sitamarhi district and burnt down the electronic voting machines, remained missing till evening.

However, this incident apart it was a peaceful polling overall, police said.

Elections were held for 45 of the 243 Assembly seats on Sunday.

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made to instill confidence among the 8.44 lakh electorate spreading at 10,315 polling stations in six districts, despite one report of Maoist arson in a booth.

The Election Commission has reduced poll timings in Moaist dominated areas in Seodhar, along with four segments of Belsand, Minapur, Paroo and Sahebgunj. Polling is being held here between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

This measure was taken after the killing of 6 securitymen on Friday night by the red rebels in a landmine blast.

Long queues were noticed in many booths much before the voting began at 7 am.
Altogether 623 aspirants, including 46 women, sought the people’s mandate to be law makers for next five years in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly.

While the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) is contesting 28 of the seats, its ally Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) is fighting in 17 seats, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 34 constituencies, while the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are fighting it out in all the 45 seats.

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is fighting in 11 seats and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have put up eight candidates each, while Communist Party of India( Maoist-Leninist-Liberation) is contesting in 11 seats.

The Moaists after killing six securitymen a day before called the people to remain home and boycott the polling.