Bihar election: 45.09% voter turnout

Polling is underway in 78 assembly segments of Bihar in the third and final phase of state elections in which 2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates. 45.90% voter turnout recorded till now.

In this phase, the ruling NDA, which is battling the anti-incumbency factor, is locked in a fierce contest against the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). As many as 2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates.

Seemanchal (Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar and Purnia) , Kosi (Supaul, Sahars and Madhepura), Mithila (Darbhanga and Madhubani) and Tirhut ( Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi) regions comprise the seats going for polls in the final round. While the Seemanchal belt gives an advantage to the Mahagathbandhan, Asaduddin’s Owasi’s AIMIM, contesting on 16 seats in this round, may cut into their votes and could win one to two seats. NDA also faces a tough fight in Purnia, Araria and Katihar.

In the Kosi belt too, the Grand Alliance looks ahead with only NDA veterans such as ministers, Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul) and Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamganj) looking good to retain their bastions.

Despite the pandemic, Bihar saw a considerable voter turnout with Phase 1 recording 54 per cent votes –– marginally lower than 54.75 per cent for the same seats in 2015 elections. Similarly, Phase 2 witnessed 55.7 per cent voter turnout as compared to 56.17 per cent recorded last time.