Bihar Assembly Election 2020 Voting Updates: 876 cases of MCC violations, Rs 66.84 cr seized during entire election, says EC

52,000 persons availed of postal ballots, says EC

EC official Chandra Bhushan Kumar said that there 1,06,515 booths for the 2020 Bihar elections,  up from 65,000 in 2015 as not more than 1,000 were voters allowed per booth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 5 lakh officials were enlisted for the exercise of which 30% were women. Also, the polling time was extended by an hour till 6 pm in the evening to ensure increased participation. It was also decided that to provide postal ballot facility for those aged 80 above, PwDs and COVID-19 patients, Nearly 52,000 persons availed of this facility, the official said.  Over 2.3 lakh migrant labourers were included through a special drive

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Third phase conducted successfully, says EC

“We stand today at a very unique point in history. The election commission was apprehensive over how elections could be conducted during the pandemic. However, the third and final phase has been conducted successfully and shows maturity of voters,” said Umesh Sinha, secretary general of Election Commission As preparations begin in advance, logistics and all were in place but the pandemic’s onslaught began in March. “Bihar is one of the most populous states in the country and one of the biggest globally as well. The Election process is very robust, very well planned and EC is very well equipped to conduct elections in one of the most adverse situations,” he added and acknowledged the indomitable spirit of the voters, especially the aged, persons with disability and other vulnerable people. The officials also thanked administrative machinery including polling officials and security personnel on the ground and the Bihar CEC.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

FIR against RJD candidate from Jorikhat

The RJD candidate from Jokihat assembly segment Sarfaraz Alam, who seeks to wrest the seat from his own brother now contesting on an AIMIM ticket,
has ended up being booked for violating model code of conduct, a senior official said on Saturday. Instructions were issued to lodge an FIR against Alam
after he was spotted at a polling station wearing a badge denoting lantern  the RJDs poll symbol, said District Magistrate Prashant Kumar. 

However, Alam claimed it was an “oversight” and that he would “fully cooperate with any legal proceedings” that may arise out of the incident.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

45.85% voter turnout till 3 pm in phase 3

The voter turnout in Bihar assembly elections for the third phase was 45.85 per cent till 3 pm.  

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Deceasesd in Purnia firing incident identified as RJD leader’s brother

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Firing at polling booth in Purnia’s Sarsi, one dead

According to local news reports, there has been a firing incident at a polling booth in Sarsi seat in the Purnia district. One person has reportedly died in the incident, Prabhat Khabar reported. 

The firing incident was triggered after heated arguments between villagers and security forces who allegedly beat up voters for breaking a queue at booth number 282, said a New Indian Express report. There has been no official statement on the matter yet.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Independent candidate from Madhubani’s Benipatti passes away due to COVID

Former JD(U) leader and an Independent candidate from Madhubani’s Benipatti seat, Neeraj Jha breathed his last in AIIMS Patna today. Jha had contracted coronavirus and was under treatment at the hospital since past 10 days. He also had type-II diabetes, according to  Hindustan .

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

34.82% voter turnout till 1 pm

The voter turnout for the third phase was 34.82 percent till 1 pm. The district wise polling percentage is as follows:

West Champaran- 35.81 percent
East Champaran- 33.62 percent
Sitamarhi- 31.51 percent
Madhubani- 34.76 percent
Supaul- 35.73 percent
Araria- 32.79 percent
Kishananj- 34.45 percent
Purnia- 36.86 percent
Katihar- 35.34 percent

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Coalitions other than NDA, Grand Alliance in Bihar

Apart from the NDA and Grand Alliance, the Grand Democratic Secular Front (GDSF) led by Upendra Kushwaha and the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav are two other alliances in Bihar struggling to make their presence felt.

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha forged a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Jantantrik Party.

Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) leader Pappu Yadav, who unsuccessfully tried to find space Rashtriya Lok Samata Party in the NDA first and then in the Grand Alliance, has cobbled up a coalition with the Azad Samaj Party led by Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, Bahujan Mukti Party, which is active in Bundelkhand and eastern region of Uttar Pradesh, and Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to contest the Bihar polls.

As part of the Grand Democratic Secular Front, the RLSP is contesting from 104 assembly seats, BSP on 80 seats, AIMIM 24, Samajwadi Janata Dal 25 and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Jantantrik Party on five seats each. The PDA is also contesting all the 243 seats.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Begusarai polling station boycotts voting

A polling station in Begusarai wore a deserted look as locals decided to boycott elections alleging lack of development in the area. People also staged a demonstration against inaction by the government.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

From Nitish’s ’last election’ remark to Modi’s open letter

The curtain came down on campaigning for the third and final phase of the Bihar Assembly election on Thursday, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying this was his “last election” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a “vikas” pitch to the electorate.

JD(U) chief Nitish, LJP chief Chirag Paswan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were among the star campaigners to hit the campaign trail on Thursday.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Voters undergo thermal screening at Madhepura

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Villagers in Kadwa constituency boycott polls

People at 12 booths under Kusail panchayat in Kadwa assembly constituency of Katihar are boycotting the polls in protest against barriers not being installed in nearby Minapur and Jhaua railway crossings.

Block Development Officer Md Iftar and other senior officials have reached the area to persuade people to vote.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

RJD candidate turns up to vote wearing party badge on shirt

In Araria, RJD candidate from Jokihat seat, Sarfaraz Alam, courted controversy by turning up for voting with a party badge pinned in his shirt which is a violation of the model code of conduct.

Araria District Magistrate Prashant Kumar said the matter has come to his knowledge and lawful action would be initiated in the incident.

PTI

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

‘Adarsh matdaan kendra’ decked up by Saharsa authorities

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Nitish Kumar’s inaction turns ‘Mahadalits’ into a mere specious tag

The Mahadalit voters in Bihar are a crucial voting bloc for the JD(U)-BJP combine. However, on the ground, their anger is palpable because, despite the sub-categorisation, they have not received the promised benefits from the government. Nitish Kumar, under the new umbrella, introduced multiple schemes for the benefit of the Mahadalits – from educational loans to scholarships to housing. The lack of implementation of these policies on the ground is stark.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Locals make temporary bridge to polling station

Locals in Muzaffarpur made a temporary bridge to help voters reach a polling station. “There was no bridge to cross the water. We constructed this bridge for easy movement of people. We wanted maximum people to cast their vote,” a local told ANI.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Projections to begin after voting closes at 6 pm

Exit polls predictions will begin on television channels soon after polls close at 6 pm on Saturday evening. The exit polls will be key in deciphering early trends to project a winner — whether Nitish will be granted a fourth straight term in the Chief Minister’s Office or whether the electorate are placing their faith in the “new wave” brought on by Tejashwi’s leadership in the RJD.

However, it is important to note that while exit polls are based on the analysis of factors like previous voting patterns and voters’ responses after they’ve cast their vote, it is only speculation about what the result could be. Results will be declared after the counting of votes scheduled for 10 November.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Floods, poverty plague state despite CM’s 15-year tenure: Chirag Paswan

In a series of tweets, LJP’s Chirag Paswan hit out at CM Nitish Kumar said the people have to follow the policy of ‘if not now, when’. “This time, he has not given the account of the last five years and now sir is retiring. After five years, he will not even come to ask for your blessings,” he tweeted in Hindi.

He further went on to appeal for “blessings” for BJP candidates. “JD(U) leaders are also furious with BJP candidates in the third phase of voting. Not a single vote given to JD(U) will make any changes in Bihar tomorrow,” he wrote on Twitter.

Seeking support for his Bihar First, Bihari First vision, he continued his tirade against Kumar and wrote, “The problem of migration, flood, education, employment, health, timely government recruitment and poverty remains the same even after the 15 years rule of the CM’s tenure.”

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Can Nitish count on his core constituency of women voters?

When the lockdown was imposed and crores of migrant workers started walking home, the already limited/constrained public health and infrastructure was proven entirely inadequate. Amid this were lakhs of women walking along with their families. An acute shortage of public bathrooms and primary healthcare facilities left the women workers without recourse.

Gender stereotypes, psychological and traditional barriers, and inequalities in education and healthcare add to the woes of this massive workforce. This workforce is not only unregulated but in the real sense, invisible. Worse off are unskilled manual women labourers who follow their husbands and earn even less, while doing the same, or sometimes more work.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Don’t have a Voter ID card? Alternate documents to use

To cast their vote, every voter is required to carry a voter slip (it can be downloaded online from nvsp.in) along with their voter identification card. 

Here’s a list of documents that voters can use instead of a Voter ID card as a photo identity proof to cast vote:

1. Passport
2. Driving licence
3. Service identity card of the state government or the central government
4. PAN card
5. Aadhar card
6. Passbook issued by bank or post office
7. MGNREGA job card
8. Health insurance card issued by the Ministry of Labour
9. Pension document with a photograph
10. Authenticated photo voter slip issued by the election commission
11. public limited companies
12. passbooks issued by banks or post office
13. pension document with photograph and official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, and MLCs.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Strengthen democracy through your vote: Rahul Gandhi

Appealing to the people of Bihar to come out and vote in large numbers, he said exercising their franchise is a step towards strenghtening democracy.

At an election rally on Wednesday, Gandhi had called Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) “Modi Voting Machines” (MVMs), but said the people of Bihar are so angry this time and they have decided to oust the BJP-JD(U) government from power in Bihar.

He also lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of having deceived the people of the state on his promise of creating new jobs.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Bihar records 8.13% voter turnout till 10 am

Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 8.13 percent till 10 am. The state witnessed 55.69 percent polling in the first phase of elections on 28 October and 53.51 percent in the second phase held on 3 November.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

One vote for development in Bihar: Nitish Kumar

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar appealed to the voters to come out in large numbers. “Your one vote will quicken the pace of development in Bihar and make it a developed state,” he tweeted.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Polling duty personnel dies on duty

An employee of irrigation department, who was on polling duty, died in Muzaffarpur while on duty after his condition deteriorated.

An ex gratia of Rs 15 lakhs will be given to deceased’s family as per rule, said Kamal Singh, Muzaffarpur District Public Relations Officer told ANI.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Bihar minister Suresh Sharma casts vote

Bihar Minister Suresh Sharma cast his vote at Booth No. 94 in Muzaffarpur. He said, “My appeal to the people is to come to vote to make Muzaffarpur city beautiful. Vote for development.”

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts his vote at a polling station in Katihar.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Vote for good governance, development, Amit Shah appeals to youth

Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to voters to come out in large numbers. “I especially appeal to the youth to vote to encourage development and good governance in Bihar and encourage others to do the same,” he tweeted in Hindi.

Meanwhile, BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda urged the people to participate in the biggest festival of democracy for the progress of their state.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

7.69% voter turnout recorded till 9 am

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Valmiki Nagar largest constituency, Hayaghat smallest

Valmiki Nagar is the largest assembly constituency area wise, whereas Saharsa is the largest in terms of the size of the electorate. Hayaghat is the smallest assembly constituency.

Gaighata has a maximum 31 candidates, while Dhaka, Triveniganj, Jokihat and Bahadurganj have the least number of nine candidates each.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Voter turnouts barely crossed 50% in first, second phases

The state witnessed 55.69 percent polling in the first phase of elections on 28 October and 53.51 percent in the second phase held on 3 November.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Congress candidate from Bihariganj Subhashini Yadav casts vote

Subhashini Yadav, a social worker who is contesting on a Congress ticket from Bihariganj assembly in Madhepura district, cast her vote from booth no 228.

Veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav’s daughter who is making her political debut from the seat represented by her father a number of times.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Candidates fielded by NDA, Grand Alliance, other parties

JD(U) – 37
BJP – 35
Vikassheel Insaan Party – 5
Hindustani Awami Morcha – 1

RJD – 46
Congress – 25
CPI(ML) – 5

LJP – 42

AIMIM – 14

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

EVM malfunction at Sitamarhi polling booth

Voting was stalled as an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a a polling station in Sitamarhi’s Riga stopped functioning, ANI reported.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Re-polling at Phase 2 polling booths due to EVM damages

Of the total 2.35 crore voters in the 78 assembly segments, spread across 15 districts of north Bihar, 1.23 crore are men, 1.12 crore are women while 894 are in the “third gender” category, according to statistics provided by the Election Commission.

In addition, re-poll is being held at two polling stations of Hisua assembly segment in Nalanda district where votes were cast in the second phase on 3 November, the Election commission said. It said the re-poll has been necessitated by the EVMs getting damaged in a road accident.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

This is my last election: Nitish Kumar

While addressing an election rally in Bihar’s Purnia earlier this week, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar said, “Today is the last day of campaigning and day after tomorrow is the election. This is my last election.”

His statement during the rally sparked speculations of his retirement plans while some described the statement as a desperate attempt to garner votes.

However, sources have reportedly clarified that the five-time chief minister meant, “last election meeting of these polls”, according to PTI.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Voting underway in 78 constituencies

The third and final phase of the Bihar Assembly polls began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, with the additional hour to avoid crowding at polling booths in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite doomsday predictions by “extreme cynics” about holding the elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation so far was reasonably good with two phases of voting completed, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said. He said the voter turnout on 28 October and 3 November was more compared to the corresponding constituencies in the 2015 assembly polls and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Arora said the poll panel tested the ground by first holding Rajya Sabha elections amid the pandemic. Enthused, it decided to go for assembly polls in Bihar, he said. To ensure social-distancing norms, the number of voters per polling station in Bihar was reduced from 1,500 to 1,000, he said, leading to an increase in the number of polling stations by nearly 33,000.

Those aged 80 years and above, and those with disabilities were given the option of using postal ballot. But most of them preferred to go to the polling booth to vote, he said.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

JD(U) aims to retain Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat in bypoll

Along with the Assembly elections, polling will also take place for Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-election has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahato.

The JD(U)’s bid to retain the Parliamentary seat by fielding his son Sunil Kumar is facing challenge from Congress candidate Pravesh Kumar Mishra, a journalist-turned-politician.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Change is beckoning Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav

Urging people to exercise their franchise in the third and the final phase of voting Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav tweeted that Bihar is on the cusp of a change.

“In Bihar, Ganga, Gandak and Kosi of change are flowing. The waves are on the rise. Make sure you vote for a golden future, all-round development, progressive Bihar and peace today,” Tejashwi said.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

PM Modi urges people to break all voting records

In a message to the people of Bihar on the day of the third and final phase of state Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to vote and break all records. “Participate in this festival of democracy. Wear a mask and maintain social distancing,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Nitish Kumar won’t return as CM: Chirag Paswan

Asserting that Nitish Kumar will never return to the chief ministerial post, Chirag Paswan expressed confidence that LJP will perform well in the third phase. He went on to say that people are connecting with the party’s ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ motto.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Polling booths sanitised ahead of voting

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, sanitisation work was done at polling booths in Muzaffarpur. Additionally, voting will be conducted for an additional hour till 6 pm to avoid crowding at polling booths.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

JD(U), BJP ministers in the fray against Grand Alliance

Prominent candidates include Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary of the JD(U), famed for his ability to win over hostile opponents with a disarming smile, who seeks to do a hat-trick in Sarairanjan.

JD(U) ministers in the fray are Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul), Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamnagar), Maheshwar Hazari (Kalyanpur), Ramesh Rishideo (Singheshwar), Khurshid alias Firoz Ahmed (Sikta), Lakshmeshwar Roy (Laukaha), Bima Bharti (Rupauli) and Madan Sahni (Bahadurpur). Four ministers are in the fray from the BJP, including Pramod Kumar (Motihari), Suresh Sharma (Muzaffarpur), Binod Narayan Jha (Benipatti) and Krishnakumar Rishi (Banmankhi).

Besides, family members of late ministers Vinod Kumar Singh (BJP) and Kapil Deo Kamat (JDU) are in the fray from the late legislators’ respective seats Pranpur and Babubarhi.

Another keenly watched candidate is Subhashini Yadav from Bihariganj whose father, veteran socialist leader and former Union minister Sharad Yadav, had been a multiple-term MP from Madhepura under which the Assembly segment falls. She is contesting on a Congress ticket.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Modi addresses 12 rallies, Nitish Kumar canvasses for his ’last election’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presided over 12 rallies during the campaign, came out with an open letter addressed to the people of the state on Thursday, saying, he “needed” CM Nitish Kumar in the state so that the development of Bihar continued unhindered.

Nitish, on his part, stunned all by winding up his last election meeting in Purnia district on Thursday with the remark “this is my last election. And all is well that ends well”. The chief minister, who seems to be bearing the brunt of the perceived anti-incumbency, caught his party members unawares with the comment. PTI reported that public anger is seemingly directed at the JD(U) more than the BJP.

The RJD, once considered invincible, is leaving no stone unturned to make a comeback, enthused by the response its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav has been receiving. The party has forged a rainbow coalition that comprises its old ally, the Congress, and the Left parties.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Owaisi factor to overshadow NDA, Grand Alliance in Kosi Seemanchal

All the Assembly segments spread across 19 districts fall in north Bihar. Areas falling north of the Ganges in the state are referred to as north Bihar in common parlance.

Many of these fall in the Kosi-Seemanchal region where the contest between NDA and Grand Alliance will be held under the shadow of the Owaisi factor given the fact that the AIMIM has fielded candidates in many of the Muslim-dominated seats and the Hyderabad MP also carried out a hectic campaign in the state.

The Kosi-Seemanchal region also happens to be the main area of influence for former MP Pappu Yadav, whose Jan Adhikar Party is determined to make its presence felt and prove a point to the RJD, PTI reported. Both draw their support from the state’s most populous community — the Yadavs.

Bihar phase 3 election voting latest updates

Voting in 78 seats to decide fate of 1,024 candidates

Voters in 78 constituencies are set to exercise their franchise in the third and final phase of the Bihar Assembly polls today (7 November). All eyes are on the last phase as stakes are high for the ruling NDA and the Opposition’s Grand Alliance led by an apparently resurgent RJD.

About 2.34 crore voters, spread across 78 segments of the 243-strong Assembly, will decide the fate of 1,204 candidates, including the Assembly Speaker and 12 members of the state cabinet.