Patna: Polling for the third and final phase of Bihar Assembly races commenced at 7 a.m. on Saturday in the midst of tight security arrangements in 78 constituencies in 15 districts of the state.
Extensive security arrangements have been made for polling, as well as measures set up to keep up social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 2.35 crore voters will exercise their franchise in this Third and Final Phase for which 33,782 polling stations have been set up in Bihar, as indicated by the state election commission.
Unlike the past two-phase, in which the electoral contest was to a great extent between the ruling NDA and opponent Mahagathbandhan with the LJP of Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan making a three-sided battle in certain constituencies, this phase is probably going to witness multi-cornered contest on several seats.
As per the Election Commission, the fate of 1,204 competitors will be determined in this phase, out of which 1,094 are men and 110 women. Gaighat has 31 candidates in the battle, the maximum, while Dhaka, Triveniganj, Bahadurganj, and Jokihat have nine candidates each, the minimum number.
In the third stage, voters will have the option to exercise their franchise as in general Assembly constituencies from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. while from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in four Assembly constituencies. Security teams have been dispatched at all polling stations. More extensive security arrangements have been made in Seemanchal regions.
Amongst 15 regions, Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria, and Katihar have the dominance of the Muslim people community. According to the information of the Election Commission, Kishanganj has a maximum of 60 percent Muslim voters, trailed by Araria with 45 percent, Karihar 40 percent, and Purnia 35 percent. These four areas have 24 Assembly constituencies.
Kosi holds three prominent districts Saharsa, Madhepura, and Supaul having a larger part of the Yadav community while the Muslim people community is under 20 percent. These three districts mutually have 13 assembly constituencies.
In 2015, JU-U managed to take 23 out of 78 seats. However, it was a part of Mahagathbandhan, therefore, the Muslim people community voted in favor of the party. The equation is probably going to change as JD-U is again a part of the NDA. RJD won 20 seats while Congress won 11 seats and the BJP managed to win 20 seats.
In Bihar, elections are being conducted for 243 assembly seats in three phases. Polling for the initial phase was held on 71 seats on October 28 and 94 seats on November 3. Vote counting will take place on November 10.
