Third phase Bihar polls see 53.65 percent voting

This is more than the 47.36 percent recorded in the 2005 assembly polls, and 43.75 percent in 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

Polling was held in 48 constituencies in six districts of East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Sivan, Saran and Vaishali, covering a total population of 10,376,022.

According to the Election Commission, the polling was peaceful barring some minor incidents.



“The poll percentage is increasing, there may be many reasons including voter awareness programmes and confidence building messages,” Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said in New Delhi.

“There is also increase in number of women voters, they could reach the polling stations fearlessly,” he said.  Some minor incidents reported included arrest of a constable and a polling officer Keshav Kumar Pandey in Gopalganj for arriving on duty in a drunken state.

A voter, Lala Rai was also arrested in Vaishali for damaging a ballot unit.  No incidents of booth capturing were reported. Some 221 arrests were made before the polls as preventive measure and 91 vehicles were impounded.

The election commission also informed that poll boycott was reported from 3 booths in East Champaran, West Champaran and Gopalganj, on development issues.