Bihar Elections Voting Percentage HIGHLIGHTS | 71 Seats Record 53.24% Turnout As Phase 1 Polling Concludes

Bihar Phase 1 Polling HIGHLIGHTS, Bihar Assembly Elections 2020: Polling began Wednesday morning in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines in place. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed people to exercise their franchise but at the same time to follow the Covid-19 protocol in place.Meanwhile, campaigning for the second phase is also going on with full swing as PM Modi held three rallies and Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold two rallies in the state.Stay tuned for all the LIVE & latest updates related to the first phase of polling in Bihar Assembly Polls.

Background

Bihar Phase 1 Polling HIGHLIGHTS, Bihar Assembly Elections 2020: Braving the pandemic, the residents of Bihar are turning out to cast their votes to elect their representatives to the Bihar legislative assmebly. The voting for the 71 seats in fray began early in the morning at 7 am amid tight security and COVID-19 guidelines in place. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in the morning asking people to exercise their franchise. It is to be noted that Bihar is the first in country to go for to polls from October 28 even as the world continues to be under the grip of Covid-19 pandemic.Of the nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are categorised as third gender, according to data provided by the Election Commission.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 include lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering of polling hours and extending postal ballot facility for 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 has also to be ensured at polling stations.The candidates in the fray in the first phase include 952 men and 114 women.As many as 33 of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase have been declared as sensitive or hypersensitive constituencies, the poll panel said.It said 31,371 polling stations have been set up in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used.

28/10/2020 19:08:37

In the 2015 assembly polls, the turnout in the phase one was 54.94 per cent, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the corresponding turnout was 53.54 per cent, he said. A total of 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar went for polls on Wednesday in the first phase of three-phase elections amid tight security and with COVID-19 guidelines in place.

28/10/2020 18:23:14

Small shopkeepers,youths,farmers angry with Modi and Nitish: Rahul Gandhi




Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said there was anger among small shopkeepers, youths, farmers and labourers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar.




Addressing his second poll rally of the day at Kusheswar Asthan in Darbhanga, the former Congress president also said it was sad that Prime Minister Modis effigy was burnt in Punjab on the occasion of Dusshera.

28/10/2020 18:18:31

Voter turnout of 52.24% recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of Bihar Polls: Election Commission

28/10/2020 17:49:27

Modi will make Bihar 'developed' state if people vote NDA to power: Nitish Kumar




Bringing the 'Modi factor' to the fore of the poll campaign, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday devoted his speech at a BJP rally here to development works undertaken by the prime minister for Bihar and said Narendra Modi will make it a "developed" state if the ruling NDA is voted back to power.




Lavishing praise on Modi, Kumar referred to a slew of projects to assert that the people of Bihar can never forget what he has done for the state.

28/10/2020 17:11:03

Bihar records 46.29% turnout till 3 PM in 1st phase of assembly polls




Over 46 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3 PM in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said in its provisional data. A total of 71 assembly segments of the state's 243 constituencies are voting in the first phase in which nearly 2.15 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of over 1,000 candidates.

28/10/2020 16:34:05

Tejashwi seeks HC-monitored probe into Munger firing




RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded a High Court-monitored probe into the Munger incident in which one person was killed and over two dozen others, including security personnel, were injured in firing and stone-pelting during goddess Durga idol immersion.




Accompanied by Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala and other leaders of the Grand Alliance, Yadav made a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, asking who gave permission to the Munger police to act like "General Dyer".

28/10/2020 16:06:48

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an election rally, at the veterinary ground in Patna. (Image: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an election rally, at the veterinary ground in Patna. (Image: PTI)

28/10/2020 15:56:23

PM's effigies burnt on Dussehra, not of 'Ravan': Rahul




Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were burnt in Punjab on Dussehra, and not that of 'Ravan'. He said that burning the effigy of the Prime Minister was sad, but the youth are angry with him.




Addressing an election meeting in Valmikinagar, Rahul praised Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

28/10/2020 15:26:12

Bihar Elections LIVE: 45.17%Voter Turnout Till 3 Pm


Poll percentage recorded in the crucial Bihar assembly polls by 3 pm was 45.17%, as per the EC's estimated data. A remarkable improvement was seen in the later half of the day. Initially, polling started at a very slow pace with only 5% people turning up in the first hour.

28/10/2020 14:40:35

Bihar Elections LIVE | Only NDA can fulfil aspirations of poor people: PM Modi in Patna


Who can fulfil the aspirations of the poor and middle class of Bihar? Can those who looted Bihar do it? Those who only thought of their families and did injustice to everyone can never understand Bihar's expectations. Only NDA can do it, said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Patna

28/10/2020 14:25:48

Bihar Elections LIVE: Rahul Gandhi’s Poll Rally



Now Prime Minister doesn't say in speeches that he'll give jobs to 2 crore youth. He knows he was lying & people also know it. I guarantee, if PM comes here & says he'll give 2 crore jobs, crowd will chase him away: Rahul Gandhi in Balmiki Nagar



Congress 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: Rahul Gandhi

28/10/2020 14:05:47

Bihar Elections 2020: Turnout shows improvement


The first election of the country amid pandemic is taking place in Bihar. Owing to Covid19 fears, the state saw a slow start of polling. However, by the afternoon the turnout figure improved a bit. As per the latest update, by 1 pm, 33% turnout was recorded.

28/10/2020 13:58:35

Bihar Elections LIVE: Rahul Gandhi attacks Govt at poll rally in Balmiki Nagar

The motive of demonetisation & lockdown was the same. It was aimed at destroying small farmers, small businesses, traders and labourers: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Balmiki Nagar.

28/10/2020 08:15:07

Stay Tuned To Our LIVE Coverage From Bihar:

28/10/2020 12:55:54

Bihar Elections LIVE: PM Modi addresses rally in Muzaffarpur



After addressing a rally in Darbhanga, PM Modi headed to Muzaffarpur. He is scheduled to address a gathering in Patna after this.



Based on their previous track record of the jungle raj, people of Bihar do not keep any expectations from the ‘Yuvraj Of Junge Raj,' said PM Modi.

28/10/2020 11:57:23

Bihar Elections LIVE : PM Modi In Darbhanga



People of Bihar have taken a resolve to again defeat those who brought 'jungle raj' in the state, those who looted Bihar. These are the people under whose government crime was rampant in the state: Prime Minister Modi

28/10/2020 11:51:02

Bihar Elections LIVE : PM Modi In Darbhanga



"A grand Ram Temple is being built in Ayodhya... those in politics who used to ask us a date (of temple construction) are now compelled to applaud... It is the identity of BJP and NDA, we do what we promise," says PM Modi

28/10/2020 11:49:27

Bihar Elections LIVE : Darbhanga Airport to strengthen connectivity




PM Modi on Wednesday recalled the development projects being carried out in Bihar. From AIIMS to Airport in Darbhanga, people of Bihar will benefit to great extent, says PM Modi.

28/10/2020 11:23:36

Rahul Gandhi lands in trouble for his tweet seeking votes for Grand Alliance


Alleging a violation of Model Code Of Conduct, the BJP is likely to file a complain against Rahul Gandhi for his tweet seeking votes for Grand Alliance.

28/10/2020 11:18:47

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE: Who Gave Permission To Become General Dyer? Tejashwi Attacks Govt On Munger Killing



"We condemn the Munger incident. The administration says one person was killed and several injured but I don't know why police acted with such brutality. What was the Chief Minister doing? 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," said Tejashwi.

28/10/2020 09:48:21

Bihar Phase 1 Polling LIVE: 7.35% Polling Till 9 AM


Till 9 am, the overall poll percentage recorded in Bihar was 7.35%. It was 5 per cent in the first hour. A slow start to polling is being witnessed in the high-stake elections which is taking place amid a pandemic. Bihar, which is the third most populous state of the country is the first one to go for polls in the middle of corona crisis.

28/10/2020 10:05:34

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

28/10/2020 09:34:51

Bihar Phase 1 Polling LIVE: Only 5% Votes cast in first hour



As per the latest update in the first hour of polling, only 5% of voters turned up to exercise their franchise in the 71 seats of the 16 districts going for polls today

28/10/2020 09:17:03

Bihar Phase 1 Polling LIVE:


Bihar: Union Minister Giriraj Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Lakhisarai. He had to wait for approx 40 minutes as the EVM had stopped working.

28/10/2020 07:58:23

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE : All polling booths sanitized

28/10/2020 07:57:31

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE : Update from Magadh



We have taken all security measures in every polling booths. Adequate security forces have been deployed. COVID19 measures have also been taken in all the booths: Rakesh Rathi, IG Magadh.

28/10/2020 07:56:20

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE : Special Covid-19 guidelines in place



Polling is taking place amid strict Covid-19 protocols.



These guidelines include lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering of polling hours and extending postal ballot facility for 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 has also to be ensured at polling stations.

28/10/2020 07:54:27

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE : Voters’ break-up


Of the nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are categorised as third gender, according to data provided by the Election Commission.

28/10/2020 07:44:43

Bihar Elections Voting LIVE : IEDs Found Near Polling Booth In Aurangabad




Amidst the first phase of voting, two IEDs have been found near a polling booth in Aurangabad, Bihar. This is an incident in the Dhibra area of Aurangabad. The CRPF team has neutralized the explosives.