Bihar Polls 2020: Polling ends for first phase, 54 per cent voter turnout recorded

The polling has ended in the Bihar election phase 1 held across 71 constituencies. Till 5 pm, a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent has been recorded, close to what was witnessed in 2015.

As Bihar Election phase 1 voting is underway, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter on Wednesday and said, "We know how to run the government, you know your mind, yes, we don't know how to lie, we will never learn! Hats off to the tremendous zeal of the people of Bihar on the path of change!" (हम सरकार चलाना जानते हैं, आपके मन की बात जानते हैं, हाँ, हम झूठ बोलना नहीं जानते, ना कभी सीखेंगे! बदलाव की राह पर बिहार की जनता के ज़बरदस्त जोश को सलाम!)

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), till 5 pm, Bihar has recoreded 51.68 per cent voter turnout in first phase. Meanwhile, the polling is still underway.

The maximum 49.84 per cent turnout has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Buxar (48.91 per cent), Kaimur (49.26 per cent), Banka (47.44 per cent), Patna (45.77 per cent) and Bhagalpur (45.51 per cent) among others.

As polling is underway in the first-phase of Bihar polls 2020, 46.29 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3 pm.

Senior BJP leader and Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar has given a clarification after a controversy erupted over his arrival at a polling booth wearing a lotus flower print mask. The Election Commission has also indicated it will act on this. Kumar says his action was unintentional. "It was not my intention to generate a controversy and nobody pointed it out to me either. Since I was really busy, I didn't take off the mask when I went to vote," said the minister. Kumar is the BJP candidate from Gaya and has been elected six times from the seat.

Returning Officer to file an FIR against Bihar Minister and BJP leader Prem Kumar for violation of the model code of conduct by wearing a mask with his party's symbol at polling booth.

Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi casts his vote at a polling booth in Gaya during the first phase of state assembly elections. "Out of 71 seats in phase-1, NDA will comfortably win around 50 seats," he said.

Addressing an election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that his party gave direction to the country. We gave MNREGA, waived off farmers' loans. We know how to run the country, stand with farmers and generate employment, but yes, we do lack one thing - we don't know how to lie. We cannot compete with him (PM) at lying","he said, adding that Tejashwi Yadav brings a new vision and wants to focus on jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on the opposition RJD in Bihar and its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, asking voters to beware of the "yuvraaj" (crown prince) of "jungle raj", and alleged the party had the "copyright over kidnappings". "Can anything be expected from the yuvraaj of jungle raj? He ought to be evaluated on the basis of a track record about which the people know much better than I do," said Modi, without mentioning by name the RJD or Yadav, the younger son and heir apparent of party president Lalu Prasad.

Voter turnout of 33.10% recorded till 1 pm in the first phase of Bihar Polls. Over 2.14 crore voters are today deciding the fate of 1,066 candidates contesting for 71 seats.

In 31,371 polling stations in Bihar during the first phase of Assembly elections, 41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units & 31,371 VVPATs have been deployed. As of 10 am, 0.18% ballot units, 0.26% control units, & 0.53% VVPATs have been replaced: Election Commission of India

Differently-abled voters queue up outside a polling booth in Jahanabad district to cast their vote during the first phase of state assembly elections.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Senior BJP leader and Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar landed in a controversy after he visited a polling booth wearing lotus flower printed face mask while casting his vote. Kumar is the BJP candidate from Gaya town and he has been elected six times from this seat. On Wednesday, he was found wearing a yellow colour face mask with a print of lotus on it. As per the Election Commission guidelines, the campaign ended 36-hours before the beginning of the polling. The Rashtriya Janata Dal said the party will bring this to the notice of the Election Commission.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Voting underway in Sasaram for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections. Visuals of voters undergoing temperature check & hand-sanitisation in a polling booth decorated with balloons.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: 14 per cent voter turnout till 11 am. Voting for 71 seats is being held on Wednesday. The ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance is contesting elections together and both parties also have tied up with VIP and HAM respectively by giving seats from their quota.

Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh casts his vote at polling booth no. 33 in Baddiha of Lakhisarai. The polling process here was delayed by an hour due to a glitch in EVM.

Bihar Minister Prem Kumar rides a cycle on his way to the polling booth to cast his vote, in Gaya. 

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: BJP president JP Nadda on Wednesday appealed to voters to participate in this grand festival of democracy while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. In a tweet, he said the right to cast vote is the biggest strength of democracy. "First phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections is being held today. I appeal to people to take part in the grand festival of democracy while keeping COVID related precautions in mind," Nadda said. "Pehle matdaan phir jalpaan (First vote then take meal)", he added.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Munger incident: "We condemn firing by police in Munger, in which 1 person was killed. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Dy CM Sushil Modi, who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe."

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Visuals of CRPF jawans helping differently-abled and elderly voters at Booth number 10 in Chakarbandha area.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: BJP candidate from Jamui and Shooter Shreyasi Singh casts her vote at a polling booth in Naya Gaon area of the district.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates 5% voter turnout recorded till 8 am in the first phase of Bihar Assembly Election 2020. Munger 2.5%, Jamui 2.3%, Bhojpur 3%, Buxar 2.3%, Sheikhpura 1.8%, Kaimur 2.2%, Rohtas 2.8%, Arwal 2.6%, Gaya 2.9%, Lakisarai 3%, Patna 4%, Bhagalpur 3%, Nawada 2.6%, Aurangabad 2.4%, Jehanabad 2.7%

As polling began for the first phase of the Bihar elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged voters to cast their votes in favour of the 'Mahagathbandhan' for "justice, employment and farmers-workers". "This time for justice, employment, farmers-workers, your vote should be only for 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance)," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "Good wishes to all of you on the first phase of Bihar elections," he tweeted with the hashtag in Hindi 'Aaj Badlega Bihar'.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Voters queue up at polling booth number 219 in Aurangabad. Polling for the first phase of Bihar Elections is underway.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address two public meetings in poll bound Bihar on Wednesday. The first rally will be in Valmiki Nagar where a by-poll is being held for the Lok Sabha seat and the second in Darbhanga. The Congress said that Rahul Gandhi will address a meeting at Near Middle School, Pakdihwa-Daunaha in West Champaran district and another at Gyaspur, opposite Shankara Modern School in Darbhanga district. Rahul Gandhi will also be travelling to Gorakhpur.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is contesting from the reserved Imamganj seat in Gaya district, which falls under Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency. The Hindustani Awam Morch president is the sitting MLA. The NDA candidate's challenger is Uday Narayan Singh, who had been associated with the JDU a few years ago but currently is an RJD nominee.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Maoists plans to disrupt voting averted. Security forces have defused two IEDs in Aurangabad.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that Nitish Kumar will ditch the BJP and join the ranks with Rashtriya Dal Party (RJD) again after the polls. 

Known as baahubali, Anant Kumar Singh is RJD’s candidate from Mokama assembly seat in Patna district. Fairly controversial because of his criminal background, Anant Kumar Singh will take on Rajiv Lochan Narayan Singh of JD(U). Mokama is going to polls in the first of the three-phase Assembly elections in Bihar on Wednesday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to turn up in record numbers as polling gets underway in the first phase. He has also urged the voters to adhere to Covid protocols.

Sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and the availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water has been ensured at polling stations.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh visited a temple in Barahiya, Lakhisarai. He says, "Election is the biggest festival of democracy. I appeal to everyone to exercise their right to vote."

Problem detected in the Electronic Voting Machine at polling booth number 168 in Lakhisarai. Polling is currently underway across 71 seats in Bihar. 

 First phase of voting begins for 71 constituencies amid tight security.

Polling will take place across 71 seats inthe first phase.

Bihar Assembly Election 2020, first of the total three phase poll, is set to take place today. The election in the first phase will take place across 71 constituencies with more than 2 crore voters who will decide the fate of 1,066 candidates.