Bihar election: 12% turnout in first two hours of fourth phase

55 assembly constituencies in seven districts of Bihar deciding their fate today

Over 12% turnout was recorded in the first two hours of polling in 55 Assembly constituencies in seven districts of Bihar, which remained largely peaceful except a clash between rival candidates in Sheohar district.

"Around 12.13% turnout has been reported from 55 assembly constituencies. Polling is peaceful in the state except in Sheohar Assembly constituency's polling station number 50 from where we have received reports of a clash between rival candidates," Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) R Lakshmanan told PTI.

Polling has not been cancelled on polling station number 50 of Sheohar, Lakshmanan said, adding the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police are on the spot and trying to get the polling process started at the earliest.

Police said two groups of rival candidates of Samajwadi Party and Hindustani Awam Morhca (HAM) clashed outside the polling station number 50.

There were reports of police resorting to mild lathicharge but this was not confirmed. Polling would come to an end at 3 PM in Shoehar which is a Naxal-hit district.

There have been reports of malfunctioning of EVMs from places of Gopalganj, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, according to the EC.

Polling is currently underway in seven districts of East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and Siwan amid tight security arrangements.

As per hourly EC bulletin, East Champaran recorded 10.09%, West Champaran 13.61%, Sheohar 13.20%, Sitamarhi 9.84%, Muzaffarpur 13.43%, Gopalganj 14.27% and Siwan 10.87%.

Gopalganj district recorded a maximum turnout of 14.27% while Sitamarhi recorded the lowest turnout of 9.84% till 9 AM.

Voting began at 7 am amid tight security in 55 constituencies of seven districts.

Prominent personalities whose fate would be decided in this phase are senior minister Ramai Ram (Bochaha), Ranju Geeta (Bajpatti), Manoj Kushwaha (Kudni).