Bihar polls: Record 60% turnout in 5th phase of Assembly elections

Patna: An estimated 60 per cent of over 1.55 crore voters cast their ballots in 57 assembly seats that went to poll in the fifth and final phase in Bihar today, the highest in the current election.

The polling passed off peacefully barring an incident of police firing in which nobody was hurt.  

Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer Ajay V Nayak said while today's 60 per cent voter turnout was the highest in the current elections, the overall polling percentage in five phases was recorded at 56.8 per cent, much more than 52.65 per cent registered in 2010 assembly polls when JD(U) and BJP had together won 206 seats out of a total of 243 as part of NDA.  

Like in previous four phases, women voters outnumbered men. 63.60 per cent of the women electorate cast their votes, against 56.05 per cent men.

Nayak said Katihar district recorded the highest 67.27 per cent voting, while Saharsa registered the lowest at 50.78 per cent.

Madhubani recorded 55.87 per cent voting, Supual 58.60, Araria, Kisanganj 64.39, Purnea 62.95, Katihar 67.27, Madhepura 57.84, Saharsa 50.78 and Darbhanga 58.27.  

Police fired in air to scare away a group of people trying to obstruct voting at booth number 65 of Jokihat constituency in Araria district. Polling was disrupted for some time but resumed later.

An estimated 57 per cent voters had exercised their franchise in the first phase, while 55.45 per cent voted in the second, 53.74 per cent in the third and 58.54 per cent in the fourth.

Counting of votes will take place on November 8.

(PTI)

Major highlights:

5pm: 59.46% polling recorded

4pm: 55.90 % polling recorded

3pm: 51.85 % polling recorded

2pm: 45.62 % polling recorded

1pm: 40 per cent polling recorded

12 noon: 31.80% polling recorded

11am: 24.29% polling recorded

10am: 17.67 % polling recorded

9am: 11.23% turnout in first two hours

8:30am: Polling process restarts at booth numbers 67 and 68 in Purnia after a technical snag in EVMs had stalled voting

8am: 5.58 per cent polling recorded

7:52am: People are voting for change and for Modiji. We will win by 2/3rd majority: Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP leader

7:05am: Delay in voting at booth numbers 67 and 68 in Purnia due to a technical snag in EVMs

PM Modi appeals to people to vote in large numbers

7am: Fifth and final round of voting for 57 seats begins

The 57 constituencies include 24 in the Seemanchal region bordering West Bengal and spread over nine districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supual, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria, Kisanganj, Purnea and Katihar.

A total of 1,55,43,594 electors are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 827 candidates, including 58 women.

Except for two seats in Simri Bhaktiyarpur, polling will take place on the remaining 55 constituencies at scheduled 7 AM to 5 PM. In the two Naxal-hit constituencies - Simri Bhakhtiyarpur and Mahisi in Saharsa district, the poll time has been cut short by two hours and would end at 3 PM.

Also Read: Lalu-Nitish have an edge over NDA on paper in 5th phase

Like in the previous four phases there is a bitter fight between the NDA and the grand secular alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress in all 57 seats in the fifth round.

Prominent among those whose fate will be decided in the last phase include senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav of JD(U) (Supual), RJD legislature party leader Siddiqui (Alinagar), Minister Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamnagar) and Lalu Prasad's 'Man Friday" Bhola Yadav (Bahadurpur).

This round would also be watched keenly to see if All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) of Hyderabad MP Asauddin Owaisi manages to successfully launch itself in Bihar. AIMIM has fielded six candidates in Seemanchal areas where Muslim voters are present in large number to test poll waters in Bihar.

Also Read: Big test for Asaduddin Owaisi's 6 candidates in 5th phase

Besides, AIMIM, impact of third front particularly Jan Adhikar Party of Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav would also be keenly watched in the Kosi belt.

In 2010, the BJP had bagged 23 out of the 57 seats where election will take place today. The JD(U), which was with the BJP in the last poll, had bagged 20 seats, the RJD of Lalu Prasad 8, Congress 3, LJP 2 and Independent 1.

The result of five-phased polling, which started on October 12 and ending today, will be declared on November 8.