Bihar Election 2020 Phase 3 LIVE Updates: Bihar is all set to form a new 243-member Legislative Assembly. The 78 constituencies are spread across 15 districts of north Bihar. The counting of votes will be held on November 10. Janata Dal (United) party Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and its allies, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are aiming to retain power. The ruling party is being challenged by the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, which includes Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other smaller parties.
The first phase of polling was held on October 28 and the second phase held on November 3. Polling for the third phase in 78 constituencies of Bihar assembly started at 7 am on November 7 at all 33,782 polling stations.
As many as 2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates. Among the candidates in the fray, 37 belong to JD(U), 35 to the BJP, while five are contesting on tickets of junior NDA ally Vikassheel Insaan Party and one from the Hindustani Awam Morcha.
The main opposition RJD is fighting 46 seats in the final phase, while its ally Congress is in the fray in 25. Ultra-Left outfit CPI(ML), which has joined the RJD-led Grand Alliance along with CPI and CPI(M), is contesting five seats in the final phase.
Bihar: Voting begins for the third and final phase of #Biharpolls; visuals from polling booth no 149 in Saharsa. pic.twitter.com/VQOQ1qlN7g
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2020
The 78 constituencies that went to poll in the third and final phase of Bihar Assembly Election 2020 have registered 54.63 per cent voter turnout till 6 pm. Final figure is expected later.
According to the Election Commission, the polling percentage in the third phase of the Bihar election at 11 am was 19.77 percent, which is higher than the corresponding figures for the first phase (18.48) and the second phase (19.26) of polls.
The Shiv Sena leader while speaking to ANI said that the Bihar CM is leader of huge stature and once a tall leader like his stature announces retirement it should be respected. He also took a jibe at him when he later said that citizens of Bihar will ensure that he gets a fitting farewell.
The total turnout in the third phase of the Bihar election is 20.32 percent till 12 pm, according to the Election Commission. District-wise, Darbhanga has performed the best with a turnout of 26.58 percent. Meanwhile, the Samastipur district ranks the lowest with a turnout of 17.51 percent.
Subhashini Raj Rao, Congress candidate from Bihariganj, cast her vote at a polling booth in Madhepura. On Nov 5, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had campaigned on behalf of Rao, who is also the daughter of Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav.
Bihar has recorded a voter turnout of 19.74% till 11 am across 78 constituencies. Araria district recorded 24.87% voter turnout. Vaishali recorded 24.58%voter turnout. Supaul recorded 21.06% voter turnout. Purnea recorded 20.51% voter turnout. Kishanganj recorded 19.63 voter turnout. Sitamarhi recorded 19.71 voter turnout. Madhubani voter turnout was 20.20%. Madehpura recorded 18.77% and Saharsa saw a voter turnout of 20.81%. Darbhanga recorded lowest at 13.23% till 11 am.
7.69% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the third phase of Bihar Assembly Elections. Visual shows state minister Suresh Sharma casts his vote at booth no 94.
Re-poll is being held at two polling stations of Hisua assembly segment in Nalanda district where votes were cast in the second phase of Bihar elections on November 3.
BJP president JP Nadda appealed the voters to come out and vote in the last phase of assembly elections on Saturday. "I appeal the voters to follow the Covid guidelines and turn out in large numbers to ensure participation."
Several EVM malfunctioned in Raxaul and Motihari which led to delay in voting. In Muzaffarpur's Sikanderpur, hand gloves were not being distributed.
Along with the state elections, 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.
On the third day of polling, the LJP chief, Chirag Paswan said "The way people are connecting with 'Bihar first, Bihari first', I believe our performance will be good in this phase too. One thing is very clear Nitish Kumar will never become the CM."