Bihar witnessed a voter turnout of 8.14 per cent till 10 am in the second phase of state assembly elections on Tuesday, according to the Election Commission of India.
IMAGE: Voters undergo thermal screening at a polling station before casting his vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly elections, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo
Polling began at 7 am on 94 assembly seats across 17 districts in the second phase of Bihar polls on Tuesday with precautionary measures against COVID-19 in place.
Voters were also provided certificates by officials at the polling booth for participating in the democratic exercise.
“Voters participating in voting were honoured by giving certificates – District Patna,” Chief Electoral Office Bihar tweeted.
IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo
Over 2.86 crore voters are eligible to cast their vote in the second phase which is also the largest of three phases of assembly poll in the state.
There are 1,464 candidates in the fray including 46 from Bharatiya Janata Party, 43 from Janata Dal-United, 56 from Rashtriya Janata Dal, and 24 from Congress.
IMAGE: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo
Five candidates from the Vikasheel Insaan Party, which is part of the NDA, are also in the fray. From Mahagathbandhan, three Left parties are contesting on 14 seats (CPI-ML six, CPI and CPM on four each).
The key candidates include former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad’s sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap.
IMAGE: Lok Janshakti Party party leader Chirag Paswan shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Khagaria district. Photograph: PTI Photo
Tejashwi, the chief ministerial candidate of Mahagathbandhan is contesting from Raghopur, while Tej Pratap, who is sitting MLA from Mahua, is contesting from Hasanpur.
Road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav is seeking re-election from Patna Sahib.
IMAGE: Bihar Governor Fagu Chauhan shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo
Polling was held for 71 constituencies in the first phase on October 28 with precautionary measures in place against the novel coronavirus. Voting in the third phase will take place on November 7 and the results will be declared on November 10.
