Bihar polls: 35.68% voting recorded till 12 noon

A total of 776 candidates are battling for 55 seats across seven districts

As polling progressed in the fourth phase of the Assembly elections in Bihar, the turnout increased to over 35% till 12 noon today.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshamanan said that 35.68% turnout had been reported from the 55 constituencies in the seven districts till that time.

Voting is in progress in a peaceful environment except an incident of clash between two groups of rival candidates at polling station number 50 of Sheohar Assembly seat due to which polling was hampered for about half an hour.

Lakshmanan said "polling at booth number 50 of Sheohar resumed a little later after the incident. 253 votes have been cast at this polling station till 12.15 pm."

As per hourly EC bulletin, West Champaran recorded 40.03% polling, East Champaran 37.84%, Sheohar 32.09%, Sitamarhi 31.33%, Muzaffarpur 36.97%, Gopalganj 35.58% and Siwan 31.24%.

West Champaran district recorded a maximum turnout of 40.03% while Siwan recorded the lowest turnout of 31.24% till 9 am.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, who represents Purbi Champran Lok Sabha constituency, exercised his franchise at polling station number 101 located at Government Sanskrit High School that falls in Motihari Assembly constituency.

Raxaul Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Sri Prakash said a homeguard Mahadev Prasad died of heart attack last night when he reached the polling station in Purandara panchayat in East Champaran district.

People of Maharani Bhopat panchayat boycotted the poll for lack of power availability at polling stations 74 and 77 of Kalyanpur Assembly constituency in East Champaran district.

Polling is being held from 7 AM to 5 PM in 43 Assembly constituencies, while it has been shortened by one hour in eight seats till 4 pm, and voting would end at 3 PM in four seats, said Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshamanan.