Bihar elections’ fourth phase witnesses 45 per cent voter turnout

PATNA - Defying Maoists’ poll boycott call, an estimated 45 per cent of over 10 crore voters exercised there franchise in the fourth phase of State Assembly elections held in 42 constituencies on Monday.

The constituencies undergoing polls today included 14 Naxal affected areas.

Amidst tight security arrangements, polling concluded at 3 p.m. in Naxal affected 14 constituencies of the State. In the remaining 28 assembly constituencies, polling concluded at 5 PM.

However, today voting passed off peacefully.

By-election for Banka parliamentary constituency that was necessitated following the death of sitting MP Digvijay Singh, was also held today.

Political fortune of 568 candidates including 58 women have been sealed after today’s poll.

Prominent candidates whose electoral fate will be decided include four Ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey, Nand Kishore Yadav, Ram Narayan Mandal and Damodar Rawat.

Meanwhile, according to the State Director General of Police Neelmani, Central paramilitary forces’ personnel have been deployed at all booths.

Jawans of special task Force on four BSF helicopters are keeping air surveillance to monitor anti-social elements.

FIRs were registered against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by taking their security guards inside a booth of the Digha Assembly constituency in Patna to cast votes in the Bihar Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Maoists today blasted a landmine near a bridge on Chakai-Jamui main road in Batia jungle area under Sona police station of Jamui district of the State.

According to Superintended of Police K. K. Singh, none has been injured in this incident. As Jawans of BSF retaliated after this explosion, the Maoists fled away. (ANI)