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.
Here are the Live updates on Bihar Election 2020 Phase 2 Voting:
The ruling JD(U) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission demanding the registration of an FIR and cancellation of nominations of Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav for allegedly concealing information about some properties in their election affidavits, reported news agency PTI. A JD(U) delegation led by state Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) minister Neeraj Kumar met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), HR Srinivasa and submitted a memorandum to him which was addressed to the Election Commission of India. Mr Kumar said that the CEO assured them that he would communicate the Commission about the information furnished by them in the memorandum for necessary action.
Communist Party of India MP Binoy Viswam has written to the Election Commission alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run up to the Bihar Assembly polls, reported news agency PTI. Referring to news reports, Mr Viswam claimed that the Prime Minister's Office, in a newsletter sent via its official PR email, solicited funds for the work of the BJP. In its newsletter on October 21, the PMO has made an advertisement stating "support those who put India first. Support BJP through micro-donations". On clicking on the link one is redirected to another page that solicits funds ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 1,000 for the BJP, Mr Viswam has alleged.
Onions were thrown at the stage when Nitish Kumar was campaigning today in Bihar's Madhubani for the state election ending Saturday. The Chief Minister's security personnel formed a shield around him as he continued his speech.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav's critics will be "khamosh-ed" (silenced) by his landslide victory when the Bihar election results are declared on November 10, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha said on Tuesday.
Bihar has made up its mind to re-elect the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this morning as he visited the state for the fourth time after the start of a fierce election campaign last month.