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Bihar polls: Voting ends in final phase with 55.73% turnout till 6 pm

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Bihar set for final phase of elections today
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Published : Nov 7, 2020, 5:27 AM IST

Updated : Nov 7, 2020, 8:36 PM IST

19:58 November 07

Bihar records 55.73% turnout till 6 pm

According to data from the election commission, Bihar saw 55.73 per cent voter turnout till 6 pm in the third and final phase of polling.

Kishanganj district recorded the highest 59.99 per cent polling till 6 pm and Vaishali recorded the lowest 49.97 per cent.

17:40 November 07

55.22% turnout till 5 pm

The Election Commission said that a voter turnout of 55.22 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the final phase of the Bihar Assembly election.

17:39 November 07

Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans were seen carrying elderly voters to a polling booth in Muzaffarpur.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans were seen carrying elderly voters to a polling booth in Muzaffarpur.

16:18 November 07

No road, no vote: Locals in Simaria boycott polls

Locals in the Simaria Panchayat of Triveniganj Assembly constituency, located in Supaul district boycotted polling, claiming that the road in their area has not been constructed for several years.

"We have been voting for 30 years. But the road has not been constructed. So, we decided to boycott the voting. Jab tak road nahin, tab tak vote nahin (No road, no vote). Around 5,000 voters will boycott voting. Polling on eight booths is cancelled," a local said.

15:31 November 07

45.85% turnout till 3 pm

A total voter turnout of 45.85 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the third phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

15:23 November 07

Temporary bridge in Darbhanga

Locals make temporary bridge to aid voters

Locals in Darbhanga district made a temporary bridge to help voters reach the polling station. Locals in Siriniya panchayat of Hayaghat Assembly segment made the bridge, as they wanted maximum people to exercise their franchise and not get disheartened by the difficulty in transport.

15:04 November 07

Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar

Tariq Anwar casts vote

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar cast his vote at a polling station in Katihar. This is the first time Anwar is voting in Bihar, as he was earlier enrolled as a voter in another state. "In a democracy, voting is very important. Through their vote, citizens can choose their government. I have voted for the progress of Bihar," he said.

14:55 November 07

RJD candidate Lovely Anand

Attempts to slow down voting: RJD candidate

RJD candidate from Saharsa Lovely Anand hit out at the administration over reports of EVM malfunctions in the constituency. She said there was a deliberate attempt to slow down voting by delaying the replacement of faulty EVMs. 

13:30 November 07

Polling underway in Bihar's West Champaran

34.82 % votes recorded till 1 pm

13:03 November 07

Election Commission officer on Purnia firing incident

Firing in Purnea

Five rounds were fired at a polling booth in Dhamdaha in Purnea district even as 19.74 per cent voting was registered in 78 Assembly segments in the first four hours on Saturday, official sources said.

The firing incident was triggered after heated arguments between villagers and security forces who allegedly beat up voters for breaking a queue at booth number 282. Police detained three persons even though it was not clear who fired the shots. No official statement had come forth on the incident till the time of filing of the report.

Villagers alleged that a security personnel hit a villager in the head with a baton, leading to a wordy duel.

Similarly, villagers were involved in altercations with security personnel in Supaul and Araria.

Villagers of Triveniganj in Supaul boycotted voting over non-development in the area.

However, Chief Electoral Officer HR Srinivas said that a man was trying to obstruct the voting at booth number 282 of Dhamdaha assembly constituency in Purnia. The fellow man misbehaved with the security forces after which there was an incident of firing.

12:28 November 07

Time to move on from Nitish Kumar, Lalu: Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya

Time to move on from Nitish Kumar, Lalu: Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya

Targeting incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya Choudhary on Saturday said that it is time to move on from these two leaders.

"Yeh aage badne ka waqt hai (This is time to move on) and this is possible only when we will get rid of Nitish ji and Lalu ji. I have voted while keeping this thing in mind," Choudhary, who has declared herself as a chief ministerial candidate for Bihar Assembly polls, told reporters here after casting her vote.

"I came to Bihar to take the state forward. In Bihar, the condition is very bad. We are getting support from the people. Our target is to win as many seats. We will win and form the government... This is time to ask tough questions. Bihar has been intentionally kept backward. We all want the change," she said. 

11:53 November 07

Presiding Officer dies of heart attack in Muzaffarpur

A Presiding Officer posted at a polling centre in Muzaffarpur district's Katra Block died due to heart attack.

"Presiding Officer Kedar Rai, deployed at voting centre number 190 in Katra, died of a heart attack," an official said.

He was employed with the state Irrigation Department. The body has been sent for a post-mortem.

11:36 November 07

Voting underway in Darbhanga

Bihar records 19.77% voter turnout till 11 am 

11:21 November 07

Election commission officer speaks to ETV Bharat

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Election Commission officer H R Srinivas said that all the preparations have been taken for the third phase polls. 

We have mandated face masks, hand sanitisers, thermal scanners, gloves, face shields, and PPE kits during the electoral process while ensuring social distancing norms, he said.

It also laid down guidelines for each polling station, including sanitisation a day before the poll, markers for social distancing, putting up of COVID-19 awareness posters, and availability of hand gloves.

11:11 November 07

Voting underway in Purnia

Bihar records 8.13 pc voter turnout till 10 am 

Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 8.13 per cent till 10 am as the polling is underway for the third and final phase of state Assembly elections on Saturday, according to the Election Commission of India.  

10:17 November 07

Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao casts her vote

Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao casts her vote at a polling booth in Madhepura. She is the Congress candidate from Bihariganj. 

"People want change. They have supported me. I have the blessings of my father (Sharad Yadav) . I have worked after listening to their suggestions. People are electing their representatives. Janta ki sarkar banegi, gareebo ki sarkaar banegi ab (Now, people's government will be formed and poor people's government will be formed)," Rao said. 

09:35 November 07

7.69% votes recorded till 9 am

An estimated 7.70 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 9 am in the 78 assembly seats of Bihar where the third
and final phase of elections were underway on Saturday.

The poll opened at 7 am in these seats spread across 15 districts of north Bihar.

According to the Election Commission, the polling percentage at 9 am was 7.69. 

The maximum 10.67 per cent turnout till 9 am was recorded in the Araria district, and the minimum (5.36 per cent) in the Katihar district.

The turnout in the first phase till 9 am was 6.74 per cent, while in the second phase it was 8.05 per cent.

Voting is being held simultaneously in the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat, where a bypoll has been necessitated due to the death of JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

It has recorded a turnout of 7.89 per cent till 9 am.

08:40 November 07

3.9% voter turned out till 8 am

08:28 November 07

Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts vote

Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts his vote at a polling station in Katihar. 

"I appeal to people of the State to exercise their right to vote so that deserving candidates are elected", Karim said. 

08:22 November 07

Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote
Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote

Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the youth to come out and vote to encourage development and good governance in Bihar.

"I appeal to all the voters of the third and last phase in Bihar to vote in maximum numbers. Especially I appeal to the youth to vote vigorously to encourage development and good governance in Bihar and motivate others to do the same," Shah tweeted.

08:21 November 07

PM Modi's appeal to Bihar voters
PM Modi's appeal to Bihar voters

PM Modi urges voters to participate in 'holy festival' of democracy, set new voting record  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appealed to the people of Bihar to participate in the "holy festival of democracy" in greater numbers and set a new voting record.  

"Today is the third and last phase of voting in Bihar assembly elections. I request all voters to participate in this holy festival of democracy in greater numbers and set a new voting record. And of course, be sure to wear masks and social distancing as well," Modi tweeted.

07:05 November 07

Special director general of police Jitendra Kumar speaks to ETV Bharat

Voting underway for 78 assembly seats in final phase of Bihar polls

Polling is underway in 78 assembly segments of Bihar in the third and final phase of state elections.

Casting of votes began at 7 am at all 33,782 polling stations where as many EVM sets and VVPAT machines have been installed and paramilitary forces deployed to maintain order, officials said.

Voting is simultaneously taking place for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat in West Champaran district where a by-election has been necessitated by the death of the sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

Of the total 2.35 voters in the 78 assembly segments, spread across 15 districts of north Bihar, 1.23 are men, 1.12 crore are women while 894 are in the third gender category, according to statistics provided by the Election Commission.

07:01 November 07

Chirag Paswan

Third phase of Bihar polls to confirm Nitish Kumar will never become CM again: Chirag Paswan

Third and final phase of Bihar Assembly polls today will give a confirmation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will never become CM again, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan said today.

"I have worked on the ground, working hard for the party all alone. One thing is clear, both the phases have confirmed this thing and the third phase will put a final stamp on it, that Nitish Kumar will never become the Chief Minister again," he said. 

"The next government that will be formed will be a development-minded government. I would like to appeal to everyone, to step outside and cast their vote. This is the only chance to make Bihar's next five years better than the last 15 years," he added. 

06:57 November 07

People queue up at polling booth in Kishanganj

People queue up at polling booth number 195 and 196 in Kishanganj for the third and final phase of Bihar Polls.

06:36 November 07

Preparation underway to conduct polls in Muzaffarpur

Preparation underway to conduct polls in Muzaffarpur

Preparation underway at a polling booth in Muzaffarpur for the third and final phase of Bihar Polls. Sanitisation works also being done at the booth. 

The voting will begin at 07:00 am on November 07. Polling officers were seen making final preparations at the booth.

06:22 November 07

Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar will take decision on its future: Tejashwi Yadav

Mahagathbandan's chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav said that Bihar will take a decision on its future, as the state is ready to go for the third and final phase of Assembly polls today.  

"I appeal to everyone to participate in this festival of democracy and cast their votes. In this election, Bihar will take decision on its future. Nitish Ji is tired and he is unable to handle the state," said Yadav. 

05:22 November 07

Bihar phase 3 elections

Key candidates in phase 3 of Bihar Polls

Patna: The political future of 12 ministers of the Nitish Kumar government is at stake in the third and final phase of the Bihar assembly elections taking place on Saturday. In the third phase, elections for 78 seats will be held.

In this phase, voters will also decide the political future of several veteran leaders of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).

In this phase, more than 2.35 crore voters will exercise their franchise in 78 assembly constituencies in 15 districts for which 33,782 polling booths have been set up.

Also Read: Key candidates in phase 3 of Bihar Polls

In this phase, apart from Assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the future of several RJD leaders including 12 members of Nitish cabinet will be finalised. The assembly constituencies going to the polls include West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali and Samastipur.

In the final phase besides Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, state ministers Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Narendra Narayan Yadav, Maheshwar Hazari, Ramesh Rishidev, Firoz Ahmed, Lakshmeshwar Roy, Bima Bharti Pramod Kumar, Suresh Sharma, Binod Narayan Jha, Madan Sahni and Krishnakumar Rishi are in the fray.

In addition, Suhasini Yadav is in the fray from Madhepura's Bihariganj for the first time to save the political legacy of her father and veteran socialist leader and former union minister Sharad Yadav.

According to the election commission, the fate of 1,204 candidates is to be decided in this phase, out of which 1094 are men and 110 women. As many as 31 candidates are in the fray from Gaighat, the highest, while nine candidates, the least, are contesting from Dhaka, Triveniganj, Jokihat and Bahadarganj each.

Also Read: All you need to know about phase 3 of Bihar elections

The constituencies of this phase are located in the Kosi and Seemanchal regions. The main contest in this phase is being considered between the NDA and the Grand Alliance, but former MP Pappu Yadav's party, the Jan Adhikar party, the Lok Janshakti Party and the AIMIM have also fielded candidates, which has increased the worries of both the major alliances.

The BJP has fielded several of its senior leaders for campaigning for the assembly elections, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. JD (U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also addressed several rallies and sought votes for the NDA.

In Bihar, elections are being held in three phases for 243 assembly seats. Polling for the first phase was held on 71 seats on October 28 and 94 seats on November 3. Counting of votes will be held on November 10.

(With inputs from agency)

19:58 November 07

Bihar records 55.73% turnout till 6 pm

According to data from the election commission, Bihar saw 55.73 per cent voter turnout till 6 pm in the third and final phase of polling.

Kishanganj district recorded the highest 59.99 per cent polling till 6 pm and Vaishali recorded the lowest 49.97 per cent.

17:40 November 07

55.22% turnout till 5 pm

The Election Commission said that a voter turnout of 55.22 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the final phase of the Bihar Assembly election.

17:39 November 07

Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans were seen carrying elderly voters to a polling booth in Muzaffarpur.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans were seen carrying elderly voters to a polling booth in Muzaffarpur.

16:18 November 07

No road, no vote: Locals in Simaria boycott polls

Locals in the Simaria Panchayat of Triveniganj Assembly constituency, located in Supaul district boycotted polling, claiming that the road in their area has not been constructed for several years.

"We have been voting for 30 years. But the road has not been constructed. So, we decided to boycott the voting. Jab tak road nahin, tab tak vote nahin (No road, no vote). Around 5,000 voters will boycott voting. Polling on eight booths is cancelled," a local said.

15:31 November 07

45.85% turnout till 3 pm

A total voter turnout of 45.85 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the third phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

15:23 November 07

Temporary bridge in Darbhanga

Locals make temporary bridge to aid voters

Locals in Darbhanga district made a temporary bridge to help voters reach the polling station. Locals in Siriniya panchayat of Hayaghat Assembly segment made the bridge, as they wanted maximum people to exercise their franchise and not get disheartened by the difficulty in transport.

15:04 November 07

Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar

Tariq Anwar casts vote

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar cast his vote at a polling station in Katihar. This is the first time Anwar is voting in Bihar, as he was earlier enrolled as a voter in another state. "In a democracy, voting is very important. Through their vote, citizens can choose their government. I have voted for the progress of Bihar," he said.

14:55 November 07

RJD candidate Lovely Anand

Attempts to slow down voting: RJD candidate

RJD candidate from Saharsa Lovely Anand hit out at the administration over reports of EVM malfunctions in the constituency. She said there was a deliberate attempt to slow down voting by delaying the replacement of faulty EVMs. 

13:30 November 07

Polling underway in Bihar's West Champaran

34.82 % votes recorded till 1 pm

13:03 November 07

Election Commission officer on Purnia firing incident

Firing in Purnea

Five rounds were fired at a polling booth in Dhamdaha in Purnea district even as 19.74 per cent voting was registered in 78 Assembly segments in the first four hours on Saturday, official sources said.

The firing incident was triggered after heated arguments between villagers and security forces who allegedly beat up voters for breaking a queue at booth number 282. Police detained three persons even though it was not clear who fired the shots. No official statement had come forth on the incident till the time of filing of the report.

Villagers alleged that a security personnel hit a villager in the head with a baton, leading to a wordy duel.

Similarly, villagers were involved in altercations with security personnel in Supaul and Araria.

Villagers of Triveniganj in Supaul boycotted voting over non-development in the area.

However, Chief Electoral Officer HR Srinivas said that a man was trying to obstruct the voting at booth number 282 of Dhamdaha assembly constituency in Purnia. The fellow man misbehaved with the security forces after which there was an incident of firing.

12:28 November 07

Time to move on from Nitish Kumar, Lalu: Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya

Time to move on from Nitish Kumar, Lalu: Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya

Targeting incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, Plurals Party chief Pushpam Priya Choudhary on Saturday said that it is time to move on from these two leaders.

"Yeh aage badne ka waqt hai (This is time to move on) and this is possible only when we will get rid of Nitish ji and Lalu ji. I have voted while keeping this thing in mind," Choudhary, who has declared herself as a chief ministerial candidate for Bihar Assembly polls, told reporters here after casting her vote.

"I came to Bihar to take the state forward. In Bihar, the condition is very bad. We are getting support from the people. Our target is to win as many seats. We will win and form the government... This is time to ask tough questions. Bihar has been intentionally kept backward. We all want the change," she said. 

11:53 November 07

Presiding Officer dies of heart attack in Muzaffarpur

A Presiding Officer posted at a polling centre in Muzaffarpur district's Katra Block died due to heart attack.

"Presiding Officer Kedar Rai, deployed at voting centre number 190 in Katra, died of a heart attack," an official said.

He was employed with the state Irrigation Department. The body has been sent for a post-mortem.

11:36 November 07

Voting underway in Darbhanga

Bihar records 19.77% voter turnout till 11 am 

11:21 November 07

Election commission officer speaks to ETV Bharat

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Election Commission officer H R Srinivas said that all the preparations have been taken for the third phase polls. 

We have mandated face masks, hand sanitisers, thermal scanners, gloves, face shields, and PPE kits during the electoral process while ensuring social distancing norms, he said.

It also laid down guidelines for each polling station, including sanitisation a day before the poll, markers for social distancing, putting up of COVID-19 awareness posters, and availability of hand gloves.

11:11 November 07

Voting underway in Purnia

Bihar records 8.13 pc voter turnout till 10 am 

Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 8.13 per cent till 10 am as the polling is underway for the third and final phase of state Assembly elections on Saturday, according to the Election Commission of India.  

10:17 November 07

Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao casts her vote

Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao casts her vote at a polling booth in Madhepura. She is the Congress candidate from Bihariganj. 

"People want change. They have supported me. I have the blessings of my father (Sharad Yadav) . I have worked after listening to their suggestions. People are electing their representatives. Janta ki sarkar banegi, gareebo ki sarkaar banegi ab (Now, people's government will be formed and poor people's government will be formed)," Rao said. 

09:35 November 07

7.69% votes recorded till 9 am

An estimated 7.70 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 9 am in the 78 assembly seats of Bihar where the third
and final phase of elections were underway on Saturday.

The poll opened at 7 am in these seats spread across 15 districts of north Bihar.

According to the Election Commission, the polling percentage at 9 am was 7.69. 

The maximum 10.67 per cent turnout till 9 am was recorded in the Araria district, and the minimum (5.36 per cent) in the Katihar district.

The turnout in the first phase till 9 am was 6.74 per cent, while in the second phase it was 8.05 per cent.

Voting is being held simultaneously in the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat, where a bypoll has been necessitated due to the death of JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

It has recorded a turnout of 7.89 per cent till 9 am.

08:40 November 07

3.9% voter turned out till 8 am

08:28 November 07

Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts vote

Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts his vote at a polling station in Katihar. 

"I appeal to people of the State to exercise their right to vote so that deserving candidates are elected", Karim said. 

08:22 November 07

Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote
Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote

Amit Shah urges Bihar youths to come out and vote

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the youth to come out and vote to encourage development and good governance in Bihar.

"I appeal to all the voters of the third and last phase in Bihar to vote in maximum numbers. Especially I appeal to the youth to vote vigorously to encourage development and good governance in Bihar and motivate others to do the same," Shah tweeted.

08:21 November 07

PM Modi's appeal to Bihar voters
PM Modi's appeal to Bihar voters

PM Modi urges voters to participate in 'holy festival' of democracy, set new voting record  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appealed to the people of Bihar to participate in the "holy festival of democracy" in greater numbers and set a new voting record.  

"Today is the third and last phase of voting in Bihar assembly elections. I request all voters to participate in this holy festival of democracy in greater numbers and set a new voting record. And of course, be sure to wear masks and social distancing as well," Modi tweeted.

07:05 November 07

Special director general of police Jitendra Kumar speaks to ETV Bharat

Voting underway for 78 assembly seats in final phase of Bihar polls

Polling is underway in 78 assembly segments of Bihar in the third and final phase of state elections.

Casting of votes began at 7 am at all 33,782 polling stations where as many EVM sets and VVPAT machines have been installed and paramilitary forces deployed to maintain order, officials said.

Voting is simultaneously taking place for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat in West Champaran district where a by-election has been necessitated by the death of the sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

Of the total 2.35 voters in the 78 assembly segments, spread across 15 districts of north Bihar, 1.23 are men, 1.12 crore are women while 894 are in the third gender category, according to statistics provided by the Election Commission.

07:01 November 07

Chirag Paswan

Third phase of Bihar polls to confirm Nitish Kumar will never become CM again: Chirag Paswan

Third and final phase of Bihar Assembly polls today will give a confirmation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will never become CM again, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan said today.

"I have worked on the ground, working hard for the party all alone. One thing is clear, both the phases have confirmed this thing and the third phase will put a final stamp on it, that Nitish Kumar will never become the Chief Minister again," he said. 

"The next government that will be formed will be a development-minded government. I would like to appeal to everyone, to step outside and cast their vote. This is the only chance to make Bihar's next five years better than the last 15 years," he added. 

06:57 November 07

People queue up at polling booth in Kishanganj

People queue up at polling booth number 195 and 196 in Kishanganj for the third and final phase of Bihar Polls.

06:36 November 07

Preparation underway to conduct polls in Muzaffarpur

Preparation underway to conduct polls in Muzaffarpur

Preparation underway at a polling booth in Muzaffarpur for the third and final phase of Bihar Polls. Sanitisation works also being done at the booth. 

The voting will begin at 07:00 am on November 07. Polling officers were seen making final preparations at the booth.

06:22 November 07

Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar will take decision on its future: Tejashwi Yadav

Mahagathbandan's chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav said that Bihar will take a decision on its future, as the state is ready to go for the third and final phase of Assembly polls today.  

"I appeal to everyone to participate in this festival of democracy and cast their votes. In this election, Bihar will take decision on its future. Nitish Ji is tired and he is unable to handle the state," said Yadav. 

05:22 November 07

Bihar phase 3 elections

Key candidates in phase 3 of Bihar Polls

Patna: The political future of 12 ministers of the Nitish Kumar government is at stake in the third and final phase of the Bihar assembly elections taking place on Saturday. In the third phase, elections for 78 seats will be held.

In this phase, voters will also decide the political future of several veteran leaders of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).

In this phase, more than 2.35 crore voters will exercise their franchise in 78 assembly constituencies in 15 districts for which 33,782 polling booths have been set up.

Also Read: Key candidates in phase 3 of Bihar Polls

In this phase, apart from Assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the future of several RJD leaders including 12 members of Nitish cabinet will be finalised. The assembly constituencies going to the polls include West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali and Samastipur.

In the final phase besides Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, state ministers Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Narendra Narayan Yadav, Maheshwar Hazari, Ramesh Rishidev, Firoz Ahmed, Lakshmeshwar Roy, Bima Bharti Pramod Kumar, Suresh Sharma, Binod Narayan Jha, Madan Sahni and Krishnakumar Rishi are in the fray.

In addition, Suhasini Yadav is in the fray from Madhepura's Bihariganj for the first time to save the political legacy of her father and veteran socialist leader and former union minister Sharad Yadav.

According to the election commission, the fate of 1,204 candidates is to be decided in this phase, out of which 1094 are men and 110 women. As many as 31 candidates are in the fray from Gaighat, the highest, while nine candidates, the least, are contesting from Dhaka, Triveniganj, Jokihat and Bahadarganj each.

Also Read: All you need to know about phase 3 of Bihar elections

The constituencies of this phase are located in the Kosi and Seemanchal regions. The main contest in this phase is being considered between the NDA and the Grand Alliance, but former MP Pappu Yadav's party, the Jan Adhikar party, the Lok Janshakti Party and the AIMIM have also fielded candidates, which has increased the worries of both the major alliances.

The BJP has fielded several of its senior leaders for campaigning for the assembly elections, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. JD (U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also addressed several rallies and sought votes for the NDA.

In Bihar, elections are being held in three phases for 243 assembly seats. Polling for the first phase was held on 71 seats on October 28 and 94 seats on November 3. Counting of votes will be held on November 10.

(With inputs from agency)

Last Updated : Nov 7, 2020, 8:36 PM IST
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