1st phase of Bihar poll passes off peacefully with 54.26 pc voter turnout

first phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections passed off peacefully on Wednesday as an estimated 54.26 per cent of nearly 2.15 crore eligible voters exercised ir franchise, marginally lower than in 2015, as coronavirus scare failed to impact turut.

polls were held in 71 constituencies spre across 16 districts amid tight security and strict COVID-19 regulations in place.

According to Election Commission's Voter Turut App, provisional polling percent was 54.26 that was updated till 10 PM.

Chief Electoral Officer's office said in Patna that voter turut in 2015 election in se 16 districts was 54.75 per cent.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said in Delhi that voter turut in phase one was 54.94 per cent in 2015 assembly polls, while in 2019 Lok Sabha elections corresponding figure was 53.54 per cent.

Election Commission secretary general Umesh Sinha told reporters in Delhi that "projected" voter turut is expected to exceed last assembly and Lok Sabha poll figures.

This was first major poll held in country amid raging COVID-19 pandemic and poll time increased by an hour till 6 pm to allow suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients to vote in last hour.

Polling went beyond 6 PM in some constituencies, while voting hours were curtailed in Naxal-affected areas and ended at 4 pm after beginning at 7 am.

Out of 16 districts which went to polls, 12 are hit by Left-wing extremism, a senior poll panel official said.

"And out of 12, four are considered as extreme Left-Wing affected," official said in Delhi, expressing satisfaction at smooth conduct of exercise.

Of nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise franchise, 1.12 crore were male, 1.01 crore female and 599 were categorised as third , according to data provided by Election Commission.

As many as 1,066 candidates are in fray in first phase of poll.

prominent candidates whose electoral fate has been locked in EVMs are Shreyasi Singh, a CWG gold medallist shooter, and six members of outgoing cabinet -- Prem Kumar (Gaya Town), Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai), Ram Narayan Mandal (Banka), Krishnanandan Pras Verma (Jehanab), Jaikumar Singh (Dinara) and Santosh Kumar Nirala (Rajpur).

Deputy Election Commissioner in-charge of EVMs said in Delhi that functioning of electronic voting machines was "very satisfactory" during polling.

A minuscule 0.22 per cent of total 41,689 ballot units, 0.25 per cent of total 31,371 control units and 1.28 per cent of total 31,371 paper trail machines were replaced due to malfunctioning, officer said.

In 12 polling stations of Jamui, poll timing was increased by one hour due to delay in replacing faulty machines, he said.

One control unit and at least one ballot unit makes for one EVM.

Deputy Election Commissioner in charge of Bihar Chandra Bhushan Kumar said in Delhi that overall cash seizure in Bihar so far stood at Rs 46.11 crore including foreign currency worth Rs 89.30 lakh.

Across all 16 districts that went to poll on Wednesday, voters were seen queuing up at polling stations since early morning and COVID-19 rms were largely followed with people wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance from each or.

At a polling station in Jalpura vill of Bhojpur district, re were t many voters around 3.15 pm when a PTI reporter went to cast his ballot, but plastic hand gloves were strewn all around, used and discarded by electors.

Hand sanitisers were kept at entrance and exit gates of booth. Some people, however, were seen without a face mask.

"We have hand gloves, but some people are refusing to wear," said Ang Kumar, presiding officer of one of four booths at polling station.

A 55-year-old polling nt died of heart attack in Nawa district. Officials said Krishna Singh was deployed at booth number 258 in Foolawa vill of Hisua assembly constituency.

y said Singh complained of severe heart pain and was rushed to Sar Hospital where doctors declared him de.

As many as 159 people were detained as a preventive measure during polling, election panel said.