Third phase of Bihar Assembly elections witness 53 per cent voter turnout

PATNA - The third phase of Bihar State Assembly elections today witnessed about 53 per cent of the 1.03 eligible voters exercising their franchise here on Thursday.

Elections were held in 48 constituencies of Bihar today.

Five Maoist-hit constituencies - Amnour, Taraya, Ramnagar, Balmikinagar and Patepur recorded 45 per cent to 52 per cent polling.

Voters were ferried by boats in the riverine areas of Raghopur Assembly constituency in Vaishali district where former chief minister Rabri Devi is in the fray.

Rabri Devi, former Bihar Chief Minister and wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, contested from Sonepur seat in Saran district.

Meanwhile, minor incidents of clash and scuffle were witnessed at some polling stations for which over 185 persons were detained, “Otherwise, it was peaceful and smooth,” said Director General of Police Neelmani.

Borders with Nepal and Uttar Pradesh were sealed and DIG and Commissioner of Saran division along with special task force commandos kept surveillance from the air, Neelmani said.

BJP and RJD workers clashed at two booths in Raxaul Assembly constituency in East Champaran district, but none was injured, official sources said.

A scuffle broke out between supporters of rival candidates at a booth at Madhavpur in Lalganj Assembly constituency in Vaishali district, they said.

Meanwhile, defects in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from a few polling centres in Balmikingar, Bagha, Bettiah, Siwan, Vaishali and Gopalganj constituencies, but they were rectified.

Voters boycotted polling at four booths - two in Bettiah constituency and one each in Bhore and Raxaul.

Polling in the Naxal-hit constituencies of Ramnagar, Balmikingar and Patepur concluded at 3:00 pm, while voting in the other two Maoist-infested constituencies Amnour and Taraiya was over at 4:00 pm.

The fortune of six State ministers will be decided in today’s phase. (ANI)