The most awaited polls in Bihar fro which many controversies has taken place were at last started today at 7 am.
The first phase out of five polling’s has started with voting for 49 seats for which 583 candidates, including 54 women are contesting was spread over 10 districts.
1,35,72,339 electorates will cast their votes, out of which there are 72,37,253 male, 63,17,602 female and 405 third gender. Polling will be held in between 7 am to 3 pm in nine constituencies namely Tarapur, Jamalpur, Suryagraha, Rajauli (SC), Govindpur, Sikandara (SC), Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai. Whereas, for the rest four constituencies Alauli (SC), Beldaur, Katoria (ST), Belhar will end at 4pm.
From 7 am to 5 pm polling in remaining 36 constituencies will end. “The duration of polling hours in 13 Assembly seats have been shortened on the basis of assessment of law and order situation with all these constituencies falling in Naxal-hit areas”, Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) R Laxmanan said.
“Among the break-up of seats being contested by different political parties in the first phase, the BSP leads the pack with 41 candidates, followed by BJP (27), RJD (17), LJP (13), Congress (8) and RLSP (6). Among the left front constituents, the CPI has fielded 25 candidates followed by the CPI-M at 12” said the relevant source.
Mr Laxmanan said that, “1.20 lakh personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls adding that every polling station will be manned by CPF personnel.”
The ACEO speaking about the security said that, “five helicopters, including three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been deployed for air surveillance during polling.The number of mounted police force to be used for patrolling stands at 50, while 33 motor boats have been pressed into service for riverine patrolling. As many as 935 video cameras and 339 android mobile phones have been put into use to ensure free and fair poll.”
