Bihar Assembly Election 2020 Voting Updates: 53.34% polling till 6 pm; Banka registers highest turnout at 59.57%

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

53.34% polling till 6 pm; Banka registers highest turnout at 59.57%

Bihar recorded 53.34% polling till 6 pm in the first phase voting. The polling was held at 16 districts, of which Banka district recorded the highest turnout with over 59% polling. Munger district recorded the lowest turnout at 47.36 percent voting.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Satisfactory polling in 4 extreme Left-wing districts: ECI

Election Commissioner in a press briefing today said that the polling for first phase included 12 Naxal-hit districts, of which four were considered extremely hit by the Left-wing extremism. He, however, expressed satisfaction about the arrangement and said the polling was conducted in a satisfactory manner. 

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

State records 51.68% polling till 5 pm

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Tejashwi seeks HC-monitored probe into Munger firing

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded a High Court-monitored probe into the Munger incident in which one person was killed and over two dozen others, including security personnel, were injured in firing and stone-pelting during goddess Durga idol immersion.

While people alleged the young man, who was in his early 20s, died in police firing, the administration said he was hit by a bullet fired by somebody from among the crowd. Munger Superintendent of Police Lipi Singh is the daughter of RCP Singh, the JD(U) leader in the Rajya Sabha. With the incident coming at a time when Bihar is voting on 71 constituencies in the first phase Wednesday, opposition parties are making every efforts to corner the ruling NDA.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Lakhisarai records highest voter turnout until 3 pm

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

Only Sandesh and Barbigha assembly seats have seen less than 40 percent voting till 3 PM out of the total 71 constituencies in the first phase.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Polling ends at 5 more seats in Bihar; voting still underway at 36 seats

Polling ended at 5 pm on five seats in Bihar, namely:  Arwal, Kurtha, Jehanabad, Ghosi, Makhdumpur (Reserved). Earlier, polling had ended at 30 seats at 4 pm and four seats at 3 pm. This leaves 36 seats where polling is scheduled to end at 6 pm

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Polling ends at 30 of 71 seats

The voting has ended at 30 of the 71 seats that went to polls today. According to Hindi news publication Hindustan, voting was conducted between 7 am to 4 pm on 26 seats, while polling concluded at four seats in red corridor at 3 pm only.

Polling was concluded at 4 pm at Katoriya (Reserved), Belhar, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, Suryagarh, Patraki (Reserved), Paliganj, Chenari (Reserved), Sasaram, Karakat, Goh , Obra, Aurangabad, Gurua, Sherghati, Imamganj (Reserved), Barachatti (Reserved), Bodhgaya (Reserved), Tikari, Rajauli (Reserved), Govindpur, Sikandra (Reserved), Jamui, Jhajha, and Chakai. 

The only exception to this is 12 booths in Jamu where polling will continue till 7 pm as some time was lost due to 

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

In a first, Modi goes after Tejashwi Yadav during poll rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a first today, took on 31-year-old Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the opposition, a move that was not lost on poll watchers and analysts. 

At a poll rally, Modi reminded the people about the 15-year RJD rule, which is often termed jungle raaj in local political speak.

"People of Bihar do not keep any expectations from the "Yuvraj Of Jungle Raj" (Crown prince of the jungle raj) owing to their previous track record," PM Modi said. "He ought to be evaluated on the basis of a track record about which the people know much better than I do," added the Prime Minister.

However, the move did not go unnoticed by poll watchers, who commented that the prime minister himself acknowledging the young leader's presence in the poll fray means that he has been making BJP nervous with his undeniable presence. 

Congress compares Nitish Kumar with General Dyer, slams govt over Mungeri firing incident

Hitting out at the Bihar government over the Munger firing incident in which a devotee was killed, the Congress compared Chief minister Nitish Kumar with General Dyer on Wednesday and demanded that he should apologise. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said human beings were treated as animals and worms by the police in Munger, when they beat up devotees taking out Durga idols "cruelly and mercilessly".

Singhvi added that General Dyer was at least a foreigner and represented a colonial power, but the Munger incident reminds everyone of barbarism and cruelty "against our own people by our own people". 

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Bihar registers over 46% turnout in first phase till 3 pm

At least 46.29 percent of the nearly 2.14 crore voters have already cast there vote up till 3 pm in the first phase of Bihar elections. With three more hours of voting left, the numbers give hope that the voting percentage may break last election's record. 

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

BJP files complaint against Rahul Gandhi over tweet

The BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his tweet, alleging it sought votes for the Mahagathbandhan. The tweet said that voting for the RJD-Congress-Left combine will be a vote for jobs, justice and farmers' welfare.

The complaint sought legal action against the leader for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Only NDA can fulfil Bihar’s aspirations: Modi

Speaking at a rally in Patna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people that only the NDA can understand and fulfil the aspirations of the poor and middle class in Bihar and not those who “only thought of their families”.

“Just like you can save yourself from COVID-19 with a mask, similarly, with a single vote you can save Bihar from becoming 'bimar',” he said.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

FIR to be filed against BJP leader for violating MCC

The Returning Officer will 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 a polling booth in Gaya, ANI reported.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Those questioning Ram temple timeline now applauding for us: Modi

Addressing a rally in Darbhanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the state has made a lot of progress under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “The ones who questioned dateline of Ayodhya Ram Mandir are now clapping in appreciation. It is the identity of BJP and NDA, we do what we promise,” he said.

“People of Bihar have taken a resolve to again defeat those who brought 'jungle raj' in the state, those who looted Bihar. These are the people under whose government crime was rampant in the state,” he went on to add.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

RJD Jamui candidate demands cancellation of polling at 55 booths

RJD's candidate from Jamui VijayPrakash has demanded that polling at 55 booth in his constituency be cancelled over the repeated malfunctioning of EVMs, India Today reported. Prakash, who is pitted against BJP's Shreyasi Singh, blamed the Centre and BJP for the EVMs not working, saying the seat would have voted for RJD.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Polling agent, elderly voter die in Nawada, Sasaram

'Keep Bihar on path of development', Amit Shah appeals to voters

Union home minister Amit Shah appealed to voters in the first phase to come out to vote in large numbers. He said, "One vote of yours will keep Bihar away from fear and corruption, and keep it on the path to progress and development."

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Bihar will progress if NDA comes to power, says Nitish

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Balgudar villagers boycott polls

Voters in Lakhisarai constituency's Balgudar village did not turn up at the polling booth in protest against the construction of a museum on a playground.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

'Double engine government' has role in Munger firing: Tejashwi Yadav

Condemning the firing by police during a Durga Puja procession in Munger on Monday in which one person was killed, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "Bihar's deputy CM had appealed to criminals to keep low for now, and continue with their activities later. This speaks volumes about the law and order situation in state."

He further added, "We condemn firing by police in Munger. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Deputy CM Sushil Modi who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe."

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

LJP to face alliances led by JD(U), RJD

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is contesting in 35 of the 71 seats, followed by its ally Bharatiya Janata Party in 29. Meanwhile, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded its candidates in 42, the most number of seats in the first phase of polling by any party, and its coalition partner Congress is in the fray in 20 Assembly segments.

The Lok Janshakti Party, headed by Chirag Paswan after the death of his father Ram Vilas Paswan, is in the fray in 41 seats. These include all the 35 contested by the JD(U) in keeping with the call given by Chirag Paswan, who recently pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state to “dislodge” the chief minister from power.

Among the candidates fighting the Bihar polls are 952 men and 114 women, the maximum number at 27 in the fray at Gaya and the minimum five at Katoria in Banka district.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Phase 1 polling begins with COVID-19 precautions

Election Commission guidelines for the safe conduct of the Bihar Assembly Election 2020 include lowering the cap on the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering of polling hours and postal ballot facility for those aged above 80 or those afflicted with or suspected to be carrying the virus.

Sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water will also have to be ensured by authorities.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Over 21 million votes to exercise franchise in Phase 1

Of the 21.4 million voters who will exercise their franchise in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections in 71 constituencies going to vote in six districts, including some of the Maoist-hit areas, 10.1 million are women and 599 belong to the third gender, according to Election Commission data.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi to hold rallies in state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Patna today, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will speak at two rallies in Valmikinagar and Kusheshwar Asthan (Darbhanga).

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Confident of two-thirds majority: Tejashwi Yadav

Confident of the 'Mahagathbandhan' getting two-thirds majority in the Bihar polls, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said providing jobs to unemployed youth would be top priority for him and his government will also bring a legislation in the first assembly session to nullify the "anti-farmer" laws brought by the Centre.

Yadav told PTI that for the first time in history a promise has been made to the youth of Bihar that 10 lakh jobs will be provided with the "first stroke of the pen in the very first cabinet meeting" if voted to power.