Voters queue to cast their ballots as a security personnel stands guard at a voting centre in the village of Banbira in Samstipur district. (AFP)
in the first phase today picked up with over 46.4 per cent polling being recorded till 2 pm.
The Election Office hourly bulletin said naxal-hit Jamui saw a maximum of 40.77 per cent voting till noon.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshaman said there was no report of any untoward incident.
Elderly people and women turned out in large numbers at many polling booths. (
Pics)
96-year-old Mahendra Prasad was spotted at a booth in Munger. Helped by family members, he arrived at the polling station on a wheel chair.
Two other noneganarians were seen coming for voting on horseback in Samastipur.
A CRPF commandant, identified as PK Mishra, and his body guard Mantu Kumar were injured in a road mishap in Munger district while patrolling for the elections.
The motor-cycle borne commandant and the jawan were injured when they lost control of the vehicle in order to save an animal, Mishra, who has been admitted to Sadar hospital, said.
A total number of 1.35 crore electors were expected to cast their votes for
49 assembly seats for which 583 candidates, including 54 women, are contesting.
While
voting started at 7 am in all 12686 booths in 49 seats, it will end at 3 pm in nine constituencies - Tarapur, Jamalpur, Suryagraha, Rajauli (SC), Govindpur, Sikandara (SC), Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai.
Polling in four constituencies - Alauli(SC), Beldaur, Katoria (ST), Belhar - will end at 4 pm.
The polling for the remaining 36 constituencies will be end at 5 pm.