Over 52 percent voter turn out in phase-II of Bihar polls
October 24th, 2010 - 9:53 pm ICT by ANIPatna, Oct.24 (ANI): Over 52 percent voting was witnessed during phase-II of the Bihar State Assembly elections here on Sunday, as people exercised their franchise in 45 constituencies spread over six districts of the State despite Naxals’ poll boycott call.
Over 9.8 million electorates were to decide the fate of 623 candidates including 46 women in 45 constituencies of
Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Darbhanga and Samastipur districts of Bihar in the second phase of elections.
Of over 10,000 polling booths, 3,700 were declared super sensitive.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, the maximum polling was reported from East Champaran which was 58
per cent. The polling was peaceful amid tight security arrangements in 47 constituencies including some in the naxal infested
areas.
Polling that began at 7 a.m., concluded at 5 p.m. except in five constituencies of Minapur, Paru, Sahebganj, Sheohar and
Belsand where it ended at 3 p.m.
Earlier in the day, heavily armed Maoists, who have called for a boycott of the polls, raided booth no. 166 in Runnisyedpur
Assembly constituency in Sitamarhi district and set afire an electronic voting machine.
According to sources, three poll personnel were reportedly missing after the incident.
In Muzaffarpur district, vehicles of state Janata Dal (United) minister Dinesh Prasad Kushawaha and ruling BJP nominee Veena
Devi were attacked at two different places in their respective Minapur and Gayghat constituencies.
While the minister escaped unhurt, his bodyguard suffered injuries in the attack.
Around 48 persons have so far been detained as part of preventive measures in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi
districts.
Political stalwarts whose fate will be decided include state RJD chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui (Alinagar), his JD(U) counterpart
Vijay Kumar Choudhary (Sarairanjan), ministers Ramnath Thakur (Samastipur) and Shahid Ali Khan (Sursand).
The third phase of election will take place on October 28 for 48 seats, the fourth on November1 for 42 seats, the fifth phase
on November 9 for 25 seats and the sixth and last phase on November 20 for 26 seats.
Counting of votes will take place on November 24. (ANI)
- 50 percent voting in Bihar till 2 p.m. - Oct 24, 2010
- Bihar Assembly polls: Maoists raid polling centre in Sitamarhi - Oct 24, 2010
- Polling for second phase of Bihar Assembly elections begins - Oct 24, 2010
- Campaign for second phase of Bihar polls to end today - Oct 23, 2010
- Second phase of Bihar polls begins - Oct 24, 2010
- EC changes poll timing, as Bihar goes to phase-II of elections on Sunday - Oct 23, 2010
- Voting begins for second phase of Bihar polls (Second Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Maoist violence in Bihar as polling under way - Oct 24, 2010
- 52.55 percent votes cast in Bihar polls second phase (Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Voting begins for second phase of Bihar polls (Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Notification issued for second phase of Bihar polls - Sep 29, 2010
- Millions vote in Bihar -- peacefully again (Evening Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Voting under way in Bihar amid Maoist disruptions (Third Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Millions vote in Bihar despite Maoist threats (Night Lead) - Oct 24, 2010
- Rahul Gandhi tells Nitish Kumar to stop 'flaunting' development - Oct 22, 2010
Tags: ali khan, assembly elections, bihar polls, bihar state, champaran, chief electoral officer, darbhanga, dinesh prasad, district vehicles, electorates, electronic voting machine, janata, poll boycott, polling booths, preventive measures, rjd, samastipur, shahid ali, two different places, vijay kumar