Bihar polls: Voting begins for final phase

PATNA - Polling for the sixth and the final phase of Bihar elections began in 26 of the 243 assemblies on Saturday morning.

The 26 constituencies are spread over Rohtas, Aurangabad, Buxar, Kaimur and Gaya districts of which 18 have been declared as Maoist-hit. Over 60 lakh electorates will cast their votes.

A total of 426 candidates, including 43 women, are in the fray in the last phase of elections.

Prominent candidates in fray include Speaker and Janata Dal-United leader Uday Narayan Choudhary (Imamganj), Bharatiya Janata Party Minister Awadhesh Narayan Singh (Dehri), Janata Dal -United ministers Chhedi Paswan (Mohania) and Anil Kumar (Tekari).

Polling is being held between 7.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., while in the rest of the seats it will be held between 7.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

Director-General of Police Neelmani said: “Around 35,000 security personnel and four helicopters have been deployed as part of unprecedented security arrangements for the elections.”

He further added, four BSF helicopters, including MI-17 and a Dhruv, are keeping air surveillance in Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxar and Kaimur districts with Special Task Force commandos on board.

There would be a 100 per cent deployment of the Central Para-Military Force in Gaya and Aurangabad districts. The other districts would have between 90 and 95 per cent deployment.

The remaining districts will be covered by regular armed forces.

Four BSF helicopters, including an MI-17 and a Dhruv, would be stationed at Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas and Kaimur districts with STF commandos for air surveillance.

BSF sniffer dogs and CRPF bomb detection and disposal squads would also be present. he State is in the process of electing a new 243-seat assembly.

Counting of votes will take place on November 24. (ANI)