Bihar Assembly Election 2020 Phase 3 Voting: About 2.34 crore voters will vote in thrid phase.
There was a 55.22 per cent turnout in Phase 3 of Bihar polls, the Election Commission said today. In the last elections in 2015, the total turnout was 56.66 per cent. An estimated 54.1 per cent of the 2.34 crore voters have cast vote till 5 pm in Bihar where 78 assembly segments of the 243-strong Bihar Assembly are voting in the third and final phase of assembly elections in the state, in which stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan.
Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao, who is contesting on a Congress ticket, is among the 1,204 candidates, including the outgoing Bihar Assembly Speaker and 12 members of the state cabinet, contesting in this phase. Counting of votes is scheduled on November 10.
Besides, polling will also take place for Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-election has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahato.
In 2015 polls, JD( U ) and BJP won 43 of these 78 seats, while the RJD-Congress combine garnered 31 seats in the third phase.
Here are the LIVE updates on Bihar Election 2020 Voting Phase 3:
Tejashwi Yadav-Led Alliance Ahead In Bihar: Bihar Poll Of Exit PollsThe opposition coalition in Bihar led by Tejashwi Yadav will win 128 seats, just past the majority mark, and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's National Democratic Alliance will win 99, an aggregate of opinion polls said on Saturday after three-phase voting completed in the state.
Read more 56.8% voter turnout till 7pm in Phase 3 of Bihar polls
55.22% voter turnout in Phase 3 of Bihar polls
There was a 55.22 per cent turnout in Phase 3 of Bihar polls, the Election Commission said today. In the last elections in 2015, the total turnout was 56.66 per cent.
Bihar Elections 2020 Poll Of Exit Polls Predictions Live Updates: Bihar Votes In Final Phase TodayThe third and final phase of assembly elections concluded today in Bihar in which stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan. The Rashtriya Janata Dal, once considered an election-winning machine in Bihar, is hoping for a comeback, enthused by the response its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, 31, received in his over two dozen rallies. The RJD is part of an alliance comprising its old ally, the Congress, besides the Left parties. This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an appeal to voters to "set a new record" as polling began in the final phase. PM Modi, who attended 12 rallies during the campaign, had come out with an open letter addressed to the people of the state on Thursday saying he "needed" Nitish Kumar in the state so that the development of Bihar continued unhindered."
Bihar Phase 3 Turnout for 5 PM
Bihar elections: Bypolls in Valmiki Nagar see 52.08% polling till 5pm52.08 % polling in Valmiki Nagar bypolls at 5 pm.
54.1% Voter Turnout Till 5 pm In Bihar In Final Phase Of Assembly Polls
In Phase 3 of Bihar elections, the voter turnout till 5pm was 54.1 per cent
Nearly 46% turnout till 3 pm in 3rd phase of Bihar pollsAn estimated 46 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 3 pm in the 78 assembly seats of Bihar where polling is underway in the third and final phase of elections on Saturday.
While the polling so far has been peaceful, police had to open fire in the air in Purnia to disburse a crowd trying to disturb voting, even as people boycotted voting at 12 booths in Katihar in protest against barriers not being set up at two railway crossings.
Bihar Phase 3 Turnout for 5 PM
Voting is still going on for the third phase of polls in Vaishali.
Female voters wearing masks and maintaining social distancing as they queue up outside the polling booth in Katihar.
Bihar Elections 2020: Polling Booth In Muzaffarpur In Bihar
Bihar Assembly Election:1,204 Candidates Contesting For 78 Assembly Seats
The third and final phase of assembly elections is underway in Bihar in which stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan. At least 1,204 candidates are contesting for the 78 assembly seats spread across 19 districts, in the final phase.
Bihar Polls: 45.9% Voter Turnout Till 3 PM
An estimated 45.9 per cent of the 2.34 crore voters have cast vote till 3 pm in Bihar where 78 assembly segments of the 243-strong Bihar Assembly are voting in the third and final phase of assembly elections in the state.
Earlier today, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim voted at a polling station in Katihar. Speaking to ANI after casting his vote, he said: "I appeal to people of the state to exercise their right to vote so that deserving candidates are elected."
A poll worker died in Muzaffarpur while on polling duty for the Bihar assembly elections, news agency ANI reported.
"A person who was on polling duty today died today after his health deteriorated. He was an employee of the irrigation department. The body has been sent for a post-mortem and an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh will be given to the family of the deceased as per rule," Muzaffarpur District Public Relations Officer Kamal Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Apart from NDA, Mahagathbandhan and a third front comprising Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), BSP, AIMIM, and some other parties are contesting the election. There are also new entrants and smaller parties in the fray.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded the maximum number of 46 candidates, followed by the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) at 42, Janata Dal (United) at 37, Bharatiya Janata Party at 35, and Congress at 25.
34.80 per cent voters turnout till 1 pm
An estimated 34.80 per cent of the 2.34 crore voters have cast vote till 1 pm.
A polling booth in Saharsa has been decorated by the district administration with Madhubani artwork. "Because of good decor and colourful setup, voters are coming in large numbers to cast their vote," Saharsa District Magistrate was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Many of the 78 areas polling today fall in the Kosi-Seemanchal region, where the contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance will be held under the shadow of the "Owaisi factor", given that the AIMIM has fielded candidates in many of the Muslim-dominated seats here, and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had carried out a relatively big campaign.
The Kosi-Seemanchal region also happens to be the main area of influence for former MP Pappu Yadav, whose Jan Adhikar Party is looking to make its presence felt and prove a point to the Rashtriya Janata Dal as both draw their support from the state's most populous community, the Yadavs.
RJD candidate turns up for voting with party badge pinned in his shirt: News agency PTI
In Araria, RJD candidate from Jokihat seat, Sarfaraz Alam, courted controvery after he turned up for voting with a party badge pinned in his shirt which is violation of the model code of conduct, news agency PTI reported. The Araria District Magistrate, PTI said, has promised lawful action against the RJD leader.
People want change, government of the poor will be formed in Bihar: Sharad Yadav's daughter
Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao, who is contesting as Congress candidate from Bihariganj, on Saturday said that people want change in Bihar and now a government of the poor will be formed.
"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)," Ms Rao told ANI.
Bihar assembly election phase 3 live updates: 19.70% voter turnout till 11 am
An estimated 19.70 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 11 am. Of these, 7.70 per cent of the electers voted in the first two hours of polling.
RJD candidate Lovely Anand, wife of former MP Anand Mohan, voted in booth number 209 in Saharsa. "Governance and administration are disturbing the voting. It was started at 9 o'clock where the polling was to be held from 7 am. Voters are being harassed. We will fax to the Election Commission," she said.
An estimated 7.70 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 9 am. The maximum 10.67 per cent turnout was recorded in the Araria district, and the minimum (5.36 per cent) in the Katihar district.
Polling is also taking place for Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-election has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahato. The JD(U)'s bid to retain the Parliamentry seat by fielding his son Sunil Kumar is facing the primary challenge from Congress candidate Pravesh Kumar Mishra, a journalist-turned-politician.
Bihar minister Suresh Sharma casts vote at a polling booth in Muzaffarpur.
7.70% voter turnout has been recorded till 9 am in the final phase
7.70% voter turnout has been recorded till 9 am in the final phase.
Third phase will confirm that Nitish Kumar will never become chief minister again: Chirag Paswan
The third and final phase of Bihar Assembly polls today will confirm that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will never become the chief minister again, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan said on Saturday.
"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.
"The next government that will be formed will focus on development. 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. (Read full story
here)
Vote for development of Bihar: BJP chief JP Nadda appeals to people
BJP president J P Nadda tweeted an appeal to people to vote in large numbers for development of the state.
"Last phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections is taking place today. I appeal to people to vote in large numbers and vote for development of Bihar. People should ensure their participation in grand festival of democracy while keeping COVID related precautions in mind," Mr Nadda tweeted.
Sharad Yadav's daughter casts vote in Madhepura
Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav's daughter Subhashini Raj Rao casts her vote at a polling booth in Madhepura. Subhashini Raj Rao is contesting on a Congress ticket. (Pic credit: ANI)
Bihar Phase 3 election live updates:Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts vote in Katihar
Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim casts 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," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Bihar assembly election 2020: Speaker, 12 ministers among key candidates
Some of the prominent candidates in this phase are the BJP's Niraj Kumar Singh in Chhatapur seat, cousin of actor Sushant Singh Rajput; Congress's Bihariganj candidate Subhashini Sharad Yadav, daughter of former Union minister Sharad Yadav; Janata Dal United's Sarairanjan candidate Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who is also the Bihar assembly Speaker, and BJP's Suresh Kumar Sharma, the Urban Development Minister contesting from Muzaffarpur.
Bihar assembly election 2020: Party-wise breakup of contesting candidates in third phase
RJD has fielded 46 candidates, the maximum by any party in the third phase. Chirag Paswan's LJP, which is not part of the NDA, has fielded 42 candidates.
2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates contesting in the third phase. Voting for the first phase was held on October 28 and for the second phase on November 3. Results will be out on November 10.
Voting is also being held for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat, where a by-election was necessitated by the death of JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahato.
Bihar Assembly election Phase 3: Nearly 60 countries had postponed elections due to pandemic
Pictures released by news agency ANI showed voters maintaining physical distancing as they wait to cast their vote.
Due to the pandemic, nearly 60 countries had postponed elections. Later, countries including Sri Lanka, South Korea, Croatia and Mangolia held elections. The Election Commission does meticulous planning for all polls. But this time, the "new dimension" of coronavirus created more challenges, the Chief Election Commissioner had said.
Those who are 80 and above, and those with special needs, were given the option of using postal ballot. But most of them preferred to go to the polling booth to vote, Mr Arora said.
WATCH: Sanitisation work being done at a polling booth in Muzaffarpur
Sanitisation work being done at a polling booth in Muzaffarpur. Election officials have made adequate arrangements at polling booths to prevent voters from contracting coronavirus.
Bihar Election 2020: Bihar will take decision on its future in this election, says Tejashwi Yadav"I appeal to everyone to participate in this festival of democracy & 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," RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav told news agency ANI.
Mr Tejashwi has promised 10-lakh jobs to the youth in the state.
Vote in great numbers, set new voting record: PM Modi
"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 mantain physical distance as well," PM Modi tweeted shortly after voting begain in third phase.
Some of the prominent candidates in this phase are the BJP's Niraj Kumar Singh in Chhatapur seat, cousin of actor Sushant Singh Rajput; Congress's Bihariganj candidate Subhashini Sharad Yadav, daughter of former Union minister Sharad Yadav; Janata Dal United's Sarairanjan candidate Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who is also the Bihar assembly Speaker, and BJP's Suresh Kumar Sharma, the Urban Development Minister contesting from Muzaffarpur.
Voting begins for the third and final phase of Bihar polls. 1,204 candidates in fray for 78 Assembly seats.
About 2.34 crore voters will decide the fates of 1,204 candidates, including the Speaker and 12 members of the state cabinet in this phase. Counting of votes is scheduled on November 10.
Seventy-eight assembly segments of the 243-strong Bihar Assembly go to polls in the third and final phase of assembly elections in Bihar in which stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan.