Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 44.5 per cent till 3 pm in the second phase of state Assembly elections today, according to the Election Commission of India.
In his fourth visit to the state in recent weeks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that the BJP and JD(U) alliance would return to power in Bihar. His remarks came at a time when polling is underway in 94 seats in the second phase. RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and four ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Cabinet are in the fray along with 1,447 other candidates.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, unlike in previous elections in which it ended an hour earlier. The times have been extended to facilitate COVID-19 patients and those with symptoms of the disease to exercise their franchise in the last hour.
Polling will, however, conclude early in naxal-hit areas. Voting is simultaneously taking place for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat by-poll, which was necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) lawmaker Baidyanath Mahto.
Voting is also underway for bypolls to 54 assembly constituencies in 10 states, including crucial 28 seats in Madhya Pradesh.
