In the first and second phases of the elections on October 12 and 16, polling was held in 49 and 32 constituencies. It covered Lalu Prasad’s political turf Saran, which has ten assembly seats and the seven-seat Nalanda region, the home district of chief minister Nitish Kumar.
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Voters’ participation in the third phase of the Bihar Assembly polls on Wednesday was lower than the earlier two phases.
Other prominent personalities who exercised their franchise during the day included Governor Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure a free and fair poll, and has set up as many as 14170 polling stations in the 50 constituencies.
At a book launch function, the editor-turned politician Shourie had come up with a very harsh assessment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government’s functioning and policies.
Polling, which started at 7 a.m., will conclude at 5 p.m.in forty constituencies, whereas it can finish at 4 p.m.in the remaining 10 Naxal-affected seats.
Sinha also said that over 9000 non-bailable warrants were executed in the third phase.
Nitish and Lalu are ranged in a grand alliance against the National Democratic Allianc led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said: “The large turnout in all our rallies proves that people want change and they have voted for a government which can walk shoulder to shoulder with the Centre”.
Voting on the 50 seats would be keenly watched across the country as it would witness battle of ballots in Mahua and Raghopur from where the two sons of RJD president Lalu Prasad are in the field.
Chief Electoral Officer Ajay V Nayak told reporters that Buxar recorded maximum 56.58 per cent voter turnout, while Patna saw minimum 51.82 per cent voting.
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Non-functioning EVMs have been reported from a few places in Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar and Siwan districts.
