News Elections Bihar Polls 2020: Polling ends for first phase, 54 per cent voter turnout recorded

Bihar Polls 2020: Polling ends for first phase, 54 per cent voter turnout recorded

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Polling in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections which took place amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines, has ended. A voter turnout of 54 per cent has been recorded, with CEC saying that the number may rise further.

Voters show their identity cards as they stand in a queue to cast their votes for the first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections, at Imamganj in Gaya. Image Source : PTIVoters show their identity cards as they stand in a queue to cast their votes for the first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections, at Imamganj in Gaya.

Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Polling in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections which took place amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines, has ended. A voter turnout of 54 per cent has been recorded, with CEC saying that the number may rise further. In phase 1, of the total 2,14,84,787 electors who were eligible to exercise the franchise, 1,12,76,396 are male voters, 1,01,29,101 female and 599 are in third gender category, according to data provided by the Election Commission. There are 78,691 service electors. A total of 1,066 candidates -- 952 men and 114 women -- are in the fray in the first phase of elections held today in constituencies spread across 16 districts. Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for safe conduct of the electoral exercise in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines included lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering the polling hours and extending postal ballot facility to those above 80. Besides, sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and the availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water were also ensured at polling stations. As many as 33 of the constituencies that went for polls in the first phase were declared as sensitive or hypersensitive constituencies. According to the ECI, 31,371 polling stations were set up in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were used.

Live updates : Bihar election 2020 Live: Polling underway in first phase for 71 Assembly constituencies

  • 7:20 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    Bihar Election 2020 first phase polling ends

    The polling has ended in the Bihar election phase 1 held across 71 constituencies. Till 5 pm, a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent has been recorded, close to what was witnessed in 2015.

  • 6:10 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    We don't know how to lie, we will never learn: Rahul Gandhi on Twitter

    As Bihar Election phase 1 voting is underway, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter on Wednesday and said, "We know how to run the government, you know your mind, yes, we don't know how to lie, we will never learn! Hats off to the tremendous zeal of the people of Bihar on the path of change!" (हम सरकार चलाना जानते हैं, आपके मन की बात जानते हैं, हाँ, हम झूठ बोलना नहीं जानते, ना कभी सीखेंगे! बदलाव की राह पर बिहार की जनता के ज़बरदस्त जोश को सलाम!)

  • 6:05 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    51.68 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm in first phase of Bihar election, polling underway

    According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), till 5 pm, Bihar has recoreded 51.68 per cent voter turnout in first phase. Meanwhile, the polling is still underway.

  • 4:53 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    A look at constituency-wise turnout till 3 pm

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

  • 3:57 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    46.29 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm as first phase polling underway in Bihar election 2020

    As polling is underway in the first-phase of Bihar polls 2020, 46.29 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3 pm.

  • 2:38 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Minister Prem Kumar clarifies why he wore lotus-print mask

    Senior BJP leader and Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar has given a clarification after a controversy erupted over his arrival at a polling booth wearing a lotus flower print mask. The Election Commission has also indicated it will act on this. Kumar says his action was unintentional. "It was not my intention to generate a controversy and nobody pointed it out to me either. Since I was really busy, I didn't take off the mask when I went to vote," said the minister. Kumar is the BJP candidate from Gaya and has been elected six times from the seat.

  • 2:33 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    RO to file FIR against Prem Kumar for MCC violation

    Returning Officer to 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 polling booth.

     

  • 2:17 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Jitan Ram Manjhi casts his vote

    Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi casts his vote at a polling booth in Gaya during the first phase of state assembly elections. "Out of 71 seats in phase-1, NDA will comfortably win around 50 seats," he said.

  • 2:14 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Cannot compete with PM Modi at lying: Rahul Gandhi

    Addressing an election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that his party gave direction to the country. We gave MNREGA, waived off farmers' loans. We know how to run the country, stand with farmers and generate employment, but yes, we do lack one thing - we don't know how to lie. We cannot compete with him (PM) at lying","he said, adding that Tejashwi Yadav brings a new vision and wants to focus on jobs.

  • 2:11 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    PM Modi calls Tejashwi Yadav the 'yuvraj' of 'jungle raj'

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on the opposition RJD in Bihar and its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, asking voters to beware of the "yuvraaj" (crown prince) of "jungle raj", and alleged the party had the "copyright over kidnappings". "Can anything be expected from the yuvraaj of jungle raj? He ought to be evaluated on the basis of a track record about which the people know much better than I do," said Modi, without mentioning by name the RJD or Yadav, the younger son and heir apparent of party president Lalu Prasad.

  • 1:47 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    33.10% turnout recorded till 1 pm

    Voter turnout of 33.10% recorded till 1 pm in the first phase of Bihar Polls. Over 2.14 crore voters are today deciding the fate of 1,066 candidates contesting for 71 seats.

  • 12:47 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units, 31,371 VVPATs deployed

    In 31,371 polling stations in Bihar during the first phase of Assembly elections, 41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units & 31,371 VVPATs have been deployed. As of 10 am, 0.18% ballot units, 0.26% control units, & 0.53% VVPATs have been replaced: Election Commission of India

     

  • 12:44 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Jahanabad: Differently-abled voters queue up outside a polling booth

    Differently-abled voters queue up outside a polling booth in Jahanabad district to cast their vote during the first phase of state assembly elections.

  • 12:28 PM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar Minister Prem Kumar in trouble for wearing lotus mask

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Senior BJP leader and Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar landed in a controversy after he visited a polling booth wearing lotus flower printed face mask while casting his vote. Kumar is the BJP candidate from Gaya town and he has been elected six times from this seat. On Wednesday, he was found wearing a yellow colour face mask with a print of lotus on it. As per the Election Commission guidelines, the campaign ended 36-hours before the beginning of the polling. The Rashtriya Janata Dal said the party will bring this to the notice of the Election Commission.

  • 11:39 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar polls 2020: Latest visuals from Sasaram

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Voting underway in Sasaram for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections. Visuals of voters undergoing temperature check & hand-sanitisation in a polling booth decorated with balloons.

  • 11:03 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar polls 2020 Live: 14 per cent voter turnout till 11 am

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: 14 per cent voter turnout till 11 am. Voting for 71 seats is being held on Wednesday. The ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance is contesting elections together and both parties also have tied up with VIP and HAM respectively by giving seats from their quota.

  • 10:50 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Giriraj Singh casts his vote in Baddiha of Lakhisarai

    Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh casts his vote at polling booth no. 33 in Baddiha of Lakhisarai. The polling process here was delayed by an hour due to a glitch in EVM.

  • 10:31 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Minister Prem Kumar rides a cycle to polling booth to cast vote

    Bihar Minister Prem Kumar rides a cycle on his way to the polling booth to cast his vote, in Gaya. 

  • 10:00 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    JP Nadda asks voters in Bihar to take part in festival of democracy

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: BJP president JP Nadda on Wednesday appealed to voters to participate in this grand festival of democracy while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. In a tweet, he said the right to cast vote is the biggest strength of democracy. "First phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections is being held today. I appeal to people to take part in the grand festival of democracy while keeping COVID related precautions in mind," Nadda said. "Pehle matdaan phir jalpaan (First vote then take meal)", he added.

  • 9:59 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Munger firing: Tejashwi Yadav demands HC-monitored probe

    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Munger incident: "We condemn firing by police in Munger, in which 1 person was killed. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Dy CM Sushil Modi, who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe."

  • 9:57 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    CRPF jawans help differently-abled, elderly voters

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Visuals of CRPF jawans helping differently-abled and elderly voters at Booth number 10 in Chakarbandha area.

  • 9:56 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Jamui: Shreyasi Singh casts her vote

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: BJP candidate from Jamui and Shooter Shreyasi Singh casts her vote at a polling booth in Naya Gaon area of the district.

  • 9:37 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    5% voter turnout recorded till 8 am

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates 5% voter turnout recorded till 8 am in the first phase of Bihar Assembly Election 2020. Munger 2.5%, Jamui 2.3%, Bhojpur 3%, Buxar 2.3%, Sheikhpura 1.8%, Kaimur 2.2%, Rohtas 2.8%, Arwal 2.6%, Gaya 2.9%, Lakisarai 3%, Patna 4%, Bhagalpur 3%, Nawada 2.6%, Aurangabad 2.4%, Jehanabad 2.7%

  • 9:26 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    For justice, employment, your vote only for Mahagathbandhan: Rahul Gandhi to Bihar voters

    As polling began for the first phase of the Bihar elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged voters to cast their votes in favour of the 'Mahagathbandhan' for "justice, employment and farmers-workers". "This time for justice, employment, farmers-workers, your vote should be only for 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance)," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "Good wishes to all of you on the first phase of Bihar elections," he tweeted with the hashtag in Hindi 'Aaj Badlega Bihar'.

  • 9:21 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Voters queue up at polling booth number 219 in Aurangabad

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Voters queue up at polling booth number 219 in Aurangabad. Polling for the first phase of Bihar Elections is underway.

  • 8:53 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Rahul Gandhi to address two rallies in Bihar on Wednesday

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address two public meetings in poll bound Bihar on Wednesday. The first rally will be in Valmiki Nagar where a by-poll is being held for the Lok Sabha seat and the second in Darbhanga. The Congress said that Rahul Gandhi will address a meeting at Near Middle School, Pakdihwa-Daunaha in West Champaran district and another at Gyaspur, opposite Shankara Modern School in Darbhanga district. Rahul Gandhi will also be travelling to Gorakhpur.

  • 8:44 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Jitan Ram Manjhi in fray from Gaya's reserved Imamganj seat

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is contesting from the reserved Imamganj seat in Gaya district, which falls under Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency. The Hindustani Awam Morch president is the sitting MLA. The NDA candidate's challenger is Uday Narayan Singh, who had been associated with the JDU a few years ago but currently is an RJD nominee.

  • 8:40 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Security forces defuse two IEDs in Aurangabad

    Bihar Election Phase 1 poll Live Updates: Maoists plans to disrupt voting averted. Security forces have defused two IEDs in Aurangabad.

  • 8:36 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Nitish Kumar will join ranks with RJD after polls: Nitish Kumar

    Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that Nitish Kumar will ditch the BJP and join the ranks with Rashtriya Dal Party (RJD) again after the polls. 

  • 8:31 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Can JDU's Lochan Narayan Singh dent jailed don Anant Kumar Singh's chances in Mokama?

    Known as baahubali, Anant Kumar Singh is RJD’s candidate from Mokama assembly seat in Patna district. Fairly controversial because of his criminal background, Anant Kumar Singh will take on Rajiv Lochan Narayan Singh of JD(U). Mokama is going to polls in the first of the three-phase Assembly elections in Bihar on Wednesday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

  • 8:10 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar election 2020 Live: PM Modi urges voters to adhere to Covid protocols

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to turn up in record numbers as polling gets underway in the first phase. He has also urged the voters to adhere to Covid protocols.

  • 7:49 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar election 2020: Sanitization at polling booth in Munger

    Sanitisation of electronic voting machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and the availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and water has been ensured at polling stations.

  • 7:46 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Giriraj Singh visits temple in Lakhisarai

    Union Minister Giriraj Singh visited a temple in Barahiya, Lakhisarai. He says, "Election is the biggest festival of democracy. I appeal to everyone to exercise their right to vote."

  • 7:45 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Lakhisarai: Problem detected in EVM at polling booth number 168

    Problem detected in the Electronic Voting Machine at polling booth number 168 in Lakhisarai. Polling is currently underway across 71 seats in Bihar. 

  • 7:06 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar election 2020 Live: First phase of voting begins

     First phase of voting begins for 71 constituencies amid tight security.

  • 6:55 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar election 2020: Latest visuals from Gaya

    Polling will take place across 71 seats inthe first phase.

  • 6:37 AM (IST) Posted by Abhinav Ranjan

    Bihar Assembly election 2020: First phase polling today

    Bihar Assembly Election 2020, first of the total three phase poll, is set to take place today. The election in the first phase will take place across 71 constituencies with more than 2 crore voters who will decide the fate of 1,066 candidates.