Patna, Nov 11 (UNI) Polling for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is progressing peacefully, with no reports of any untoward incident from any constituency so far, officials said on Tuesday.
According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), an estimated 14.55 percent of the electorate had cast their votes in the first two hours of polling. The highest turnout was reported from Gaya district at 15.97 percent, while Madhubani recorded the lowest at 13.25 percent.
Other turnout figures include: West Champaran (15.04 percent), East Champaran (14.11 percent), Sheohar (13.94 percent), Sitamarhi (13.49 percent), Supaul (14.85%), Araria (15.34 percent), Kishanganj (15.81 percent), Purnia (15.54 percent), Katihar (13.77 percent), Bhagalpur (13.43 percent), Banka (15.14 percent), Kaimur (15.08 percent), Rohtas (14.46 percent), Arwal (14.95 percent), Jahanabad (13.81 percent), Aurangabad (15.43 percent), Nawada (13.46 percent), and Jamui (15.77 per cent).
“No reports of any untoward incident have been received from any assembly constituency where polling is underway,” CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said.
Minor technical snags in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from booth number 89 in Purnea and booth number 329 in Kishanganj, but polling resumed shortly after the issues were rectified by technical teams deployed by the Election Commission.
BJP MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal cast his vote along with family members at booth number 73 in Bettiah, expressing confidence that voter turnout would exceed 70 percent in this phase.
“There is unprecedented enthusiasm among voters. The kind of crowd visible indicates that this time the figure will cross 70 percent. We will form the government with a large majority, crossing the 200-seat mark,” Jaiswal said.
He also asserted that Bihar was witnessing development under the NDA government. “It was my dream to see Bihar develop in all sectors, including infrastructure, and under the NDA regime, these dreams are becoming reality,” he said, while criticizing the RJD for “glorifying don Mohammad Shahabuddin,” whom he described as symbolic of the ‘Jungle Raj’ era in Bihar.
Bihar Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Renu Kumari also exercised her franchise in Bettiah.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to voters to come out in large numbers, calling voting both a right and a responsibility. In a post on X, he urged citizens to “exercise their franchise in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections.”
Polling in the first phase, held on November 6 across 121 constituencies, recorded a voter turnout of 64.6 percent. Counting of votes for all 243 Assembly seats will take place on November 14.
UNI KKS AAB