Elections 2014: 47 percent voter turnout recorded in Bihar till 3 pm

Patna: Forty-seven percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in seven Lok Sabha seats of Bihar where voting is underway in the third phase today. While Supual registered 49 percent voting till 3 pm, it was 47 percent in Araria, 51 percent in Kisanganj, 47 percent in Katihar, 45 percent in Purnia, 44 percent in Bhagalpur and 43.5 percent in Banka, an Election Commission statement said.

BJP star leader Shahnawaz Hussain exercised his franchise in Bhagalpur and former union minister and RJD leader Mohammad Taslimuddin, contesting polls from Araria, also cast his vote.

Despite the temperature touching over 42 degrees celsius, enthusiasm was visible among voters, old as well young, in different booths. There was report of delay in polling in 20 booths in Katihar due to snags in EVM machines. There were also reports of technical problems in EVMs in some other constituencies which were rectified, election office sources said.

In Katihar, a 90-year-old woman Ram Pyari was seen coming to a polling station after crossing a riverlet carried by four persons on a charpoy. In Purnea, an elderly woman who was the first to cast her vote in a booth was presented with flowers by the poll official to motivate voters.

In Supual, located on border along Nepal, many elderly men and women and physically challenged persons were seen reaching polling stations with the help of youngsters. By-poll in the Assembly seats of Basie in Purnea and Kochadhaman in Kisanganj recorded 48.89 percent votes in the first three hours.

PTI