18:25 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
ECI to brief media shortly
The Election Commission will hold a press conference at 6.30 pm.
#ElectionCommissionOfIndia's Media Briefing at 6.30 PM today on #BiharElections
— PIB In Bihar 🇮🇳 Mask yourself 😷 (@PIB_Patna) October 28, 2020
Watch out Live here 👇https://t.co/F4xLMntebN#BiharPolls
18:15 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Over 51% voter turnout registered till 5 pm, says EC
Over 51.91 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 5 PM in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said in its provisional data.
Poll Percentage 5 pm pic.twitter.com/kpnLUSNFdq
— CEO Bihar #ElectionDepartmentBihar (@CEOBihar) October 28, 2020
18:10 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Modi will make Bihar 'developed' state if people vote for NDA: Nitish Kumar
Bringing the 'Modi factor' to the fore of the poll campaign, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday devoted his speech at a BJP rally here to development works undertaken by the prime minister for Bihar and said Narendra Modi will make it a "developed" state if the ruling NDA is voted back to power.
Lavishing praise on Modi, Kumar referred to a slew of projects to assert that the people of Bihar can never forget what he has done for the state.
"Listening to his (Modi's) appeal, if you give the NDA one more chance to work in the state, then you take it for sure that he will transform it into a developed state. Bihar with march ahead," he said.
-PTI
18:03 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Polling finishes early at 30 of 71 seats
The voting has ended at 30 of the 71 seats that went to polls today. According to Hindi news publication Hindustan, voting was conducted between 7 am to 4 pm on 26 seats, while polling concluded at four seats in red corridor at 3 pm only.
17:57 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Small shopkeepers, youths, farmers angry with Modi and Nitish: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said there was anger among small shopkeepers, youths, farmers and labourers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar.
Addressing his second poll rally of the day at Kusheswar Asthan in Darbhanga, the former Congress president also said it was sad that Prime Minister Modi's effigy was burnt in Punjab on the occasion of Dusshera. "You didn't get to see it perhaps because Nitishji and Modiji control the media," he alleged.
He said the people of Bihar gave 15 years to Nitish Kumar as chief minister and six years to Modi as Prime Minister yet "Bihar is the poorest state".
He said the ongoing elections in Bihar was about the state's future and if the Congress comes to power with its Grand Alliance partners it will be the government of all castes and religions.
-PTI
17:39 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
50.8% voter turnout recorded by 5 pm
According to the Voter Turnout App, 51.80 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 5 pm in the 71 constituencies of 243-member Assembly in the phase one elections. Chakai registers the highest voter turnout with 60.03 percent followed by Bhabua with 59.5 percent
17:24 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
NDA will easily win around 50 out of 71 seats, says ex-Bihar CM
Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi casts his vote at a polling booth in Gaya on Wedneday, and said that NDA will comfortably win nearly 50 out of 71 seats that have gone to polls in the first phase.
16:58 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Sandesh and Barbigha see less than 40% of votes till 3 pm
The maximum 49.84 percent turnout has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Buxar (48.91 percent), Kaimur (49.26 percent), Banka (47.44 percent), Patna (45.77 percent), and Bhagalpur (45.51 percent) among others.
Only Sandesh and Barbigha assembly seats have seen less than 40 percent voting till 3 PM out of the total 71 constituencies in the first phase.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Lakhisarai, while former Bihar chief minister and HAM president Jitan Ram Manjhi exercised his franchise at a booth in Gaya.
-PTI
16:28 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Bihar was transformed into jungle raj by Cong, RJD govt: Yogi Adityanath
One of the star campaigner for the Bihar Assembly election, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a rally in West Champaran, during which he launched a sharp attack on RJD and Congress.
"The land that gave the empires like Pataliputra, Vaishali, the land of Bihar, which started the golden age of India within the world, was transformed into anarchy and jungle raj by the Congress and RJD government 15 years ago," said Yogi Adityanath. reports ANI
16:13 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Tejashwi Yadav seeks HC-monitored probe into Munger firing
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded a High Court-monitored probe into the Munger incident in which one person was killed and over two dozen others, including security personnel, were injured in firing and stone-pelting during goddess Durga idol immersion.
Accompanied by Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala and other leaders of the Grand Alliance, Yadav made a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, asking who gave permission to the Munger police to act like "General Dyer".
With the incident coming at a time when Bihar is voting on 71 constituencies in the first phase Wednesday, opposition parties are making every efforts to corner the ruling NDA.
Taking a swipe at the chief minister, Tejashwi Yadav asked Kumar,who also holds the home portfolio, what did he do to prevent the incident. "Apart from issuing a few tweets what did deputy chief minister Sushil Modi do to prevent the ugly incident," he told reporters training guns on his rivals.
"The video of the incident is heart-rending as youths have been mercilessly beaten up by the police who rained lathis on them. Why did police open fire?" he asked.
-PTI
15:45 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Munger firing incident: Congress draws parallel with Jallianwala Bagh
Hitting out at the Bihar government over the Munger firing incident in which a devotee was killed, the Congress compared Chief minister Nitish Kumar with General Dyer on Wednesday and demanded that he should apologise.
General Reginald Dyer is known for ordering troops of the British Indian Army to fire at a crowd of unarmed civilians in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, killing many of them, on 13 April, 1919.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said human beings were treated like animals and worms by the police in Munger, when they beat up devotees taking out Durga idols "cruelly and mercilessly".
One person was killed and over two dozen people, including security personnel, were injured in firing and stone-pelting during the immersion of Durga idols in Bihar's Munger, police said on Tuesday, a day before the first phase of the Assembly polls in the state, including in the district.
-PTI
15:22 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
46.29% voter turnout till 3 pm
Over 46 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3 PM in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said in its provisional data.
A total of 71 assembly segments of the state's 243 constituencies are voting in the first phase in which nearly 2.15 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of over 1,000 candidates.
With the progress of time, voters turnout at booths has been increasing at several places notwithstanding raging coronavirus cases in the state.
15:17 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
BJP files complaint against Rahul Gandhi for MCC violation
BJP filed complained against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his tweet posted 28 hours earlier asking for votes in the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls. "On the Twitter post an appeal has been made by Rahul Gandhi, in utter violation of Model Code of Conduct," the BJP issued a statement on Wednesday.
14:49 (IST)
Patna election polling latest updates
Only NDA can fulfill the aspirations of Bihar: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing his final rally of the day in Patna as Bihar is witnessing polling in first phase. "Who can fulfill the aspirations of the poor and middle class of Bihar? Can those who looted Bihar do it? Those who only thought of their families and did injustice to everyone can never understand Bihar's expectations. Only NDA can do it," said Modi in Patna.
14:31 (IST)
Muzaffarpur election polling latest updates
Modi calls Tejashwi Yadav 'yuvraj of jungle raj'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on the opposition RJD in Bihar and its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, asking voters to beware of the yuvraaj (crown prince) of jungle raj, and alleged the party had the "copyright over kidnappings".
Addressing his second rally of the day in the poll-bound state, Modi cautioned the people that a return of the "jungle raj" will bring a double whammy for the state in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic'.
14:29 (IST)
Patna election polling latest updates
Modi addresses election rally in Patna
#WATCH Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Patna#BiharPolls https://t.co/vIWVDNZXmK
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
14:20 (IST)
Balmiki Nagar election polling latest updates
Demonetisation, COVID-19 lockdown were aimed at destroying farmers, traders: Rahul Gandhi
Citing the Narendra Modi-led government's policies such as demonitisation and COVID-19 lockdown, Rahul Gandhi said that both these policies were aimed at destroying small farmers, small businesses, traders and labourers.
The motive of demonetisation & lockdown was the same. It was aimed at destroying small farmers, small businesses, traders and labourers: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Balmiki Nagar#BiharElections pic.twitter.com/Sc8anVXJhf
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
14:15 (IST)
West Champaran election polling latest updates
PM lying about two crore jobs for youth: Rahul Gandhi
Continuing his tirade against Narendra Modi over loss of jobs and unemployment in Bihar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said, "Now Prime Minister doesn't say in speeches that he'll give jobs to two crore youth. He knows he was lying and people also know it. I guarantee, if he comes here and says he'll give two crore jobs, crowd will chase him away."
13:59 (IST)
West Champaran election polling latest updates
Bihar has no jobs because of Nitish Kumar: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi has started his address in Bihar's West Champaran district on Wednesday. The former Congress chief blamed the Nitish Kumar government for loss of jobs in the state.
"Bihar doesn't have adequate jobs, facilities, and its not your fault. This is the fault of your chief minister and prime minister. People from here went to Delhi in search of work. Why didn't you work in Bihar Metro? Because there is no metro in the state," said Rahul.
13:53 (IST)
Gaya election polling latest updates
Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi casts vote in Gaya
Bihar: Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi casts his vote at a polling booth in Gaya during the first phase of state assembly elections.
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
"Out of 71 seats in phase-1, NDA will comfortably win around 50 seats," he said. pic.twitter.com/xESfOf6Oqu
13:50 (IST)
Nawada election polling latest updates
ITBP jawans help differently-abled, elderly voters to reach polling booths in Nawada
Bihar: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans helping differently-abled & aged voters to reach polling booths in the Nawada district of Bihar during the first phase of polling for 71 seats. pic.twitter.com/BiFE3iDkBg
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
13:46 (IST)
Lakhisarai election polling latest updates
40.16% voter turnout in Lakhisarai
Lakhisarai is taking the lead in the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls in terms of voter turnout. The seat has recorded the highest turnout of 40.16 percent. This was followed by Nawada at 38.08 percent.
Meanwhile, Sheikhpura has registered the minimum turnout of 29.49 percent as of 1 pm.
13:42 (IST)
Gaya election polling latest updates
FIR against BJP’s Prem Kumar for MCC violation
Returning Officer to file an FIR against Bihar Minister and BJP leader Prem Kumar for violation of the model code of conduct. Kumar was wearing a mask with his party's symbol at polling booth.
Bihar’s Agriculture Minister has won the Gaya seat six times in a row.
13:30 (IST)
Muzaffarpur election polling latest updates
Modi addresses rally at Muzaffarpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his second rally in Muzaffarpur and will address one more rally in Patna. Earlier, he addressed members of the public at Darbhanga city of Bihar.
13:28 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Bihar will face double whammy if Jungle Raj is reelected to power: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Muzaffarpur rally reminded members of the public about opposition's past record. "You can imagine what will happen to the funds for COVID-19 if they come to power... What else can people of Bihar expect from the Yuvraj (prince) of Jungle Raj, given their past record. You know them better than I do," said Modi.
You can imagine what will happen to the funds for #COVID19 if they come to power... What else can people of Bihar expect from the 'Yuvraj' (prince) of 'Jungle Raj', given their past record. You know them better than I do: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Muzaffarpur
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
##BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/xfko4mrMv6
You can imagine what will happen to the funds for #COVID19 if they come to power... What else can people of Bihar expect from the 'Yuvraj' (prince) of 'Jungle Raj', given their past record. You know them better than I do: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Muzaffarpur
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
##BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/xfko4mrMv6
13:13 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
23.9% voter turnout in first six hours of voting
In the first phase of Assembly election in Bihar, 23.9 percent voter turnout was recorded in first six hours of voting in 71 consituencies.
Baghalpur has registered the highest turnout at 34.34 percent till 1 pm, which was followed by Banka at 33.14 percent. Meanwhile, Jahanabad is still at the bottom ranks with a voter turnout of 11.39 percent.
12:43 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Over 41,000 ballot units in first phase: EC
In 31,371 polling stations in Bihar during the first phase of Assembly elections, 41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units and 31,371 VVPATs have been deployed. As of 10 am, 0.18% ballot units, 0.26% control units, & 0.53% VVPATs have been replaced, said the Election Commission to ANI on Wednesday.
12:32 (IST)
Darbhanga election polling latest updates
Over Rs 1,200 cr sanctioned for Darbhanga AIIMS: Modi
"The building of AIIMS in Darbhanga will give great convenience to Mithilanchal. Over Rs 1,200 crore has been sanctioned for Darbhanga AIIMS. With the construction of AIIMS here, people will not only get better health facilities, but seats for medical education will also increase," said Narendra Modi during his Darbhanga rally on Wednesday.
He highlighted the fact that BJP-NDA's motto is to fulfill all promises that it has made in its manifesto.
12:26 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Lakhisarai records highest turnout at 26.76% till 12 pm
As per the voter turnout data updated by the Election Commission at 12 pn, 18.31 percent of the total electorates have exercised their franchise.
The maximum 26.76 percent turnout has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Nawada (23.42 percent) and Banka (22.58 percent).
Among other districts, Buxar has recorded 19.10 percent turnout, Gaya 19.02 percent, Aurangabad 18.46 percent, Sheikhpura 17.31 percent, Kaimur (Bhabua) 16.98 percent and Bhojpur 16.21 percent.
12:19 (IST)
Gaya election polling latest updates
FIR to be filed against BJP's Prem Kumar for MCC violation
Gaya District Magistrate has directed the police to file an FIR against BJP candidate Prem Kumar for violating model code of conduct, reported The Hindu on Wednesday. Kumar was seen at the polling booth wearing a mask with the party’s poll symbol.
The report further said Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra confirmed that an FIR will be lodged against the Minister.
12:09 (IST)
Jahanabad election polling latest updates
Differently-abled voters queue up outside polling booth in Jahanabad
Bihar: Differently-abled voters queue up outside a polling booth in Jahanabad district to cast their vote during the first phase of state assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/NmQea4fZo6
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
12:06 (IST)
Dharbhanga election polling latest updates
Those who taunted over delay in Ram temple construction are applauding now: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought up Ayodhya issue at the election rally in Darbhanga. "Ram temple construction has begun; those who taunted us over delay are clapping in applause," said Modi.
11:55 (IST)
Dharbhanga election polling latest updates
More job opportunities for youth in Atmanirbhar Bihar: Modi
Citing the vision of a self-reliant India, Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi said that more opportunities will be created for industrialists which would further increase employment opportunities for the youth in Bihar.
11:53 (IST)
Dharbhanga election polling latest updates
Previous govts worked on 'Paisa hajam, pariyojna khatam' motto: PM
At the election rally in Darbhanga, Narendra Modi took a swipe at the Opposition parties saying, "the ones in power earlier worked on the motto Paisa hajam, pariyojna khatam".
"Nitish ji during his tenure as railways minister in Vajpayee cabinet had initiated the Kosi Mahasetu project; it was completed only days back. An 8-hr journey has been cut to 30 minutes," said Modi.
भारत के यशस्वी प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi को दरभंगा से लाइव सुनें:#BiharWithNDA https://t.co/LjcPoYCd0W
— BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) October 28, 2020
11:41 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Bihar has made progress under Nitish Kumar govt: PM in Darbhanga
Addressing the public in Raj Maidan, Darbhanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Bihar has witnessed several developments under Nitish Kumar government.
"I pray for recovery of all citizens of Bihar affected by coronavirus," said Modi.
11:36 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Narendra Modi addresses rally in Darbhanga
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Raj Maidan, Darbhanga#BiharElections2020 pic.twitter.com/vjYRE0QAkN
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
11:34 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
CVoter survey says Nitish Kumar may return
A pre-poll survey in the election-bound state of Bihar has predicted a pro-incumbency result, suggesting that Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar will retain the chief minister's post despite abysmal approval ratings.
Pollster CVoter has published these results in collaboration with Times Now and ABP News in Hindi and English. The ABP News-CVoter survey was conducted between 1 and 23 October, by speaking to 30,678 people across the 243 seats that are due for elections, the news portal said. The survey statistics of the Times Now poll were not explicitly mentioned by the news portal.
11:32 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Nadda asks voters to participate in 'grand festival of democracy'
11:29 (IST)
Mokama election polling latest updates
Voters que outside polling booth in Mokama
Voting underway at polling booth number 23 in Mokama for the first phase of #BiharAssemblyElection2020. pic.twitter.com/nmTOBwrnmJ
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
11:24 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Amit Shah appeals voters to exercise franchise
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters in Bihar to exercise their franchise to "keep the state out of fear and corruption and keep it on the path of development and progress".
11:18 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Modi to address public in Muzaffarpur
मिथिला और मगध में आ रहे हैं,
— BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) October 28, 2020
आज प्रधानसेवक!
करोड़ों लोगों के प्रिय, विकास के प्रतीक,
मिथिला के बहुत नीक तरहे बुझs वाला,
मोदी जी आबि रहल छथि!
अहाँक स्वागत अछि श्रीमान!#BiharWithNDA pic.twitter.com/bZN0hcDlGJ
11:13 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Turnout recorded at 14.56% as of 11 am
Voting for the phase 1 of Bihar Assembly elections began at 7 am on Wednesday and the turnout has been recorded at 14.56 percent till 11 am. According to the Voter Turnout App, the highest turnout was recorded in Lakhisarai at 26.28 percent. While the lowest was recorded in Bhagalpur at 5.27 percent.
11:05 (IST)
Sasaram election polling latest updates
Voting underway in Sasaram; COVID-19 protocols observed
Bihar: Voting underway in Sasaram for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
Visuals of voters undergoing temperature check & hand-sanitisation in a polling booth decorated with balloons pic.twitter.com/BMMNL7n0XU
10:56 (IST)
Lakhisarai election polling latest updates
Voters of Balgudar village in Lakhisarai boycott polls
Voters of Balgudar village in Lakhisarai district are protesting against the construction of a museum on a playground. Booth number 115 Presiding Officer Mohammad Ikramul Haq said that it wore a deserted look.
Bihar: Voters of Balgudar village in Lakhisarai district boycott elections, booth number 115 wears a deserted look.
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
"Villagers are not voting as they're protesting against the construction of a museum on a playground," says Booth No. 115 Presiding Officer Mohammad Ikramul Haq pic.twitter.com/QpDaejRzZV
10:35 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
7.35% voter turnout till 10 am
According to the Voter Turnout App, 7.35 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 10 am in the 71 constituencies of 243-member Assembly in the phase one elections.
The highest turnout was recorded in Banka at 9.70 percent. While the lowest was recorded in Bhagalpur and Patna at 2.67 percent
10:28 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Chirag Paswan is Tejashwi Yadav's B team: Sanjay Jha
"It has been proved that Chirag Paswan is Tejashwi Yadav's B team, now do we need to say anything more? To help Tejashwi, this entire game is being played. Chirag Paswan has failed in 'Reel' life as well as in his real life," said JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha.
10:03 (IST)
Bihar phase 1 election voting latest updates
Bihar has a govt of 'Nirday Kumar' and 'Nirmam Modi': Randeep Surjewala
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala targeted the state govt over clashes in Munger. The Mahagathbandhan further sharpened its attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over clashes in Munger.
Surjewala said there is a 'Nirday Kumar' and 'Nirmam Modi' government in Bihar.
09:56 (IST)
Jamui election polling latest updates
BJP's Shreyasi Singh casts vote in Naya Gaon
Contesting from Jamui Assembly seat, BJP candidate and Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning shooter Shreyasi Singh cast her vote at a polling booth in Naya Gaon area of the district on Wednesday.
She is the daughter of former union minister and Lok Sabha MP, Digvijay Singh, who died in 2010.
Bihar: BJP candidate from Jamui and Shooter Shreyasi Singh casts her vote at a polling booth in Naya Gaon area of the district. pic.twitter.com/zBe2DQOeio
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
09:52 (IST)
Gaya election polling latest updates
Prem Kumar casts vote in Gaya
Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar cast his vote in Gaya on Wednesday. For the past 30 years in Gaya, nobody has been able to breach this BJP fortress. Winning the seat six times in a row, Kumar has been accommodated into the cabinet each time an NDA government was sworn into power.
This seat will be a litmus test of BJP’s popularity in the region.
#WATCH: Bihar Minister Prem Kumar rides a cycle on his way to the polling booth to cast his vote, in Gaya. #BiharAssemblyElection2020 pic.twitter.com/9tR2AiZZz4
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020
09:38 (IST)
Munger election polling latest updates
Munger accident not normal, we demand high court-monitored probe: Tejashwi Yadav
At a joint press conference by Grand Alliance in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday compared the incident in Munger, where one person was killed in clashes during Durga idol immersion, to General Dyer moment.
"We condemn firing by police in Munger, in which 1 person was killed. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Dy CM Sushil Modi, who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe," said Yadav on Munger incident.
Bihar voting percentage elections 2020 LATEST updates: In the first phase of the Assembly election in Bihar, 51.91 percent voter turnout was recorded in ten hours of voting in 71 constituencies of the 243-member Assembly.
The maximum 49.84 percent turnout has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Buxar (48.91 percent), Kaimur (49.26 percent), Banka (47.44 percent), and Patna (45.77 percent) till 3 pm.
In the first phase of Assembly election in Bihar, 44.10 percent voter turnout was recorded in eight hours of voting in 71 consituencies of 243-member Assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing his final rally of the day in Patna as Bihar is witnessing polling in first phase.
Rahul Gandhi has started his address in Bihar's West Champaran district on Wednesday. The former Congress chief blamed the Nitish Kumar government for loss of jobs in the state.
Returning Officer to file an FIR against Bihar Minister and BJP leader Prem Kumar for violation of the model code of conduct. Kumar was wearing a mask with his party's symbol at polling booth.
Baghalpur has registered the highest turnout at 34.34 percent till 1 pm, which was followed by Banka at 33.14 percent. Meanwhile, Jahanabad is still at the bottom with a voter turnout of 11.39 percent.
As per the voter turnout data updated by the Election Commission at 12 pm, 18.31 percent of the total electorates have exercised their franchise.
Narendra Modi raked up the Ayodhya issue at an election rally in Darbhanga and said, "those who taunted us over delay of Ram temple construction are clapping in applause."
Addressing the public in Raj Maidan, Darbhanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Bihar has witnessed several developments under Nitish Kumar government.
According to the Voter Turnout App, the highest turnout was recorded in Lakhisarai at 26.28 percent. While the lowest was recorded in Bhagalpur at 5.27 percent.
According to the Voter Turnout App, 7.35 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 10 am in the 71 constituencies of 243-member Assembly in the phase one elections.
A day after violence in Munger, the Mahagathbandhan slammed the state government over the law and order situation in Bihar.
In the phase 1 Assembly election in Bihar, Dalit votes will matter the most, while in the third phase Muslim voters will be higher in proportion.
Polling for the first phase of the 243-seat Bihar Assembly elections is underway with precautionary arrangements in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than two crore voters are set to decide the fate of 1,066 candidates across 71 Assembly segments in the first phase.
Polling will be held between 7 am and 6 pm, with the last hour being set aside for those who have contracted COVID-19 or who are in quarantine.
In the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, the first phase of polling in 49 constituencies saw a voter turnout of 57 percent while the overall voter turnout was 56.91 percent, up from 52.7 percent in 2010. Notably, the poll percentage among women at 59.92 percent exceeded https://twitter.com/SimpsonsQOTD/status/1321114826584793089men (56.8 percent) as per a report in The Times of India.
As per data provided by the Election Commission, 1.01 crore of the 2.14 crore voters who will exercise their franchise on Wednesday are women while 599 belong to the third gender,
The candidates include 952 men and 114 women, the maximum number (27) being in the fray at Gaya Town and the minimum (5) at Katoria in Banka district.
The ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJPU and the Janata Dal (United), which has also joined hands with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awami Morcha (HAM) and with the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) is fighting the Mahagathabandhan of the RJ(D), Congress and Left parties to retain power in the state.
Among the major political parties, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is contesting 35 of the 71 seats, followed by its ally BJP (29), while the Opposition RJD has fielded its candidates in 42 and its coalition partner Congress is in the fray in 20 Assembly segments.
Lok Janshakti Party, headed by Chirag Paswan, is in the fray in 41 seats, which include all the 35 contested by the JD(U), in keeping with the call given by the young party president, who recently pulled out of the NDA in the state to "dislodge" the chief minister from power.
Prominent candidates
Prominent candidates include Shreyasi Singh, the Commonwealth Games gold medalist shooter who is making her political debut at the age of 27 as the BJP candidate from Jamui.
Shreyasi is pitted against Vijay Prakash Yadav of the RJD, the sitting MLA whose elder brother Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav is a former Union minister and a close aide of party supremo Lalu Prasad.
Notably, the former Union minister's 28-year-old daughter Divya Prakash is also making her debut in the adjoining Tarapur constituency as the candidate of her father's party.
Half a dozen members of the state Cabinet — Prem Kumar (Gaya Town), Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai), Ram Narayan Mandal (Banka), Krishnanandan Prasad Verma (Jehanabad), Jaikumar Singh (Dinara) and Santosh Kumar Nirala (Rajpur) are also fighting the electoral battle in the first phase.
Of the six, Verma, Singh and Nirala belong to the JD(U), while the remaining are from the BJP.
The reserved Imamganj seat in Gaya district, which falls under Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency, will see a proverbial clash of titans. NDA candidate Jitan Ram Manjhi's bid to retain the seat faces a challenge from his predecessor Uday Narayan Chaudhary who had been associated with the JD(U) till a few years ago but has now been fielded by the RJD.
Coronavirus guidelines
In view of the coronavirus pandemic raging across the country, the poll panel had issued guidelines for the safe conduct of the elections. These include lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggered polling hours and a postal ballot facility for those aged above 80, or those afflicted with or suspected to be carrying the virus.
Besides, electronic voting machines will have to be sanitised, polling officials will have to wear masks and other protective gear and availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap, and water will be ensured.
The second and third phase of elections are scheduled to be held on 3 and 7 November. The results will be announced on 10 November.
With inputs from PTI
October 28, 2020 at 06:29PM
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