Polls open in first phase of Bihar elections

Polling began Wednesday morning in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in first phase of three-phase elections amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines in place. Of nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are categorised as third , according to data provided by Election Commission.

Guidelines have been issued by Commission for safe conduct of electoral exercise in midst of raging COVID-19 pandemic. se guidelines include lowering maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering of polling hours and extending postal ballot facility for those above 80.

Besides, sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and or protective gear by polling personnel and availability of rmal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water has also to be ensured at polling stations. candidates in fray in first phase include 952 men and 114 women.

As many as 33 of constituencies going to polls in first phase have been declared as “sensitive or hypersensitive” constituencies, poll panel said. It said 31,371 polling stations have been set up in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told PTI-Bhasha that security forces have been deployed in adequate strength at all polling stations and buildings housing m. local police has also been used to supplement paramilitary forces wherever required, he said, adding services of home guard jawans will also be taken at polling stations for works like maintaining queue.

He said that as a precautionary measure, all security personnel deployed on poll duty have been given a coronavirus kit which has a face mask, gloves, a face shield and sanitisers. He said special security arrangements have been made for Naxal-affected areas. Most of state’s Naxal-hit areas are going to polls in first phase, he said. administration will keep an aerial vigil also and one helicopter will be used for purpose, he said.

Anuncing election schedule for 243-member assembly on September 25, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had said that polls will open as usual at 7 am but voting hour will be extended by one hour until 6 pm, except in Left Wing Extremism affected areas, so that COVID-19 patients can vote in last hour of day. "Bihar assembly polls will be one of biggest elections globally to be held during prevailing COVID-19 situation," Arora had said.