Bihar Elections 2020: Voting Underway For Third And Final Phase; Speaker, 12 Ministers Among Key Candidates

The final phase of the Bihar election has started today. Voting will take place in 78 assembly segments.

Image (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The third and final phase of Bihar elections in the remaining 78 assembly segments have begun today. Around  2.34 crore voters are set to decide the future of 1,204 candidates, this includes the Speaker and 12 members of the state cabinet. The elections to the 243-member assembly of Bihar was divided into three phases and counting of the votes will take place on November 10. Voting has already started in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed to people to come in large numbers and exercise their right in the final phase of the election while following all Covid-19 norms. He wrote in Hindi, "I request all voters to participate in this festival of democracy in large numbers and set a new voting record. However, it is necessary to wear masks and maintain social distancing."

बिहार विधानसभा चुनावों में आज तीसरे और आखिरी चरण का मतदान है। सभी मतदाताओं से मेरी विनती है कि वे अधिक से अधिक संख्या में लोकतंत्र के इस पावन पर्व में भागीदार बनें और वोटिंग का नया रिकॉर्ड बनाएं। और हां, मास्क पहनने और सोशल डिस्टेंसिंग का ध्यान भी अवश्य रखें।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020

The Bihar election is one of the biggest elections globally to be held during the prevailing COVID-19 situation. The first and second phase of the elections on 94 seats concluded in the state amid strict Covid-19 protocols. The third phase of polls is scheduled for November 7. The results will be announced on November 10. JD(U) ministers in the fray are Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul), Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamnagar), Maheshwar Hazari (Kalyanpur), Ramesh Rishideo (Singheshwar), Khurshid alias Firoz Ahmed (Sikta), Lakshmeshwar Roy (Laukaha), Bima Bharti (Rupauli) and Madan Sahni (Bahadurpur). Whereas from BJP it is four ministers- Pramod Kumar (Motihari), Suresh Sharma (Muzaffarpur), Binod Narayan Jha (Benipatti) and Krishnakumar Rishi (Banmankhi). Recently, the Chief Minister CM Nitish Kumar announced in his last election meeting in Purnea district that this was his last election. He said,"this is my last election. And all is well that ends well".