Voting picks up in Bihar, over 44% vote till 2 pm

Voting in 49 Assembly seats of Bihar in the first phase today picked up with over 44% polling being recorded till 2 pm.

The Election Office hourly bulletin said naxal-hit Jamui saw a maximum of 40.77% voting till noon.

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Polling percentage was 31.79% in Samastipur, 34.05% in Begusarai, 30.55% in Khagaria, 30.96% in Bhagalpur, 36.99% in Banka, 32.22% in Munger, 34.76% in Lakhisarai, 32.47% in Sheikhpura and 32.20% in Nawada, the EC bulletin said.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshaman said there was no report of any untoward incident.

Elderly people and women turned out in large numbers at many polling booths.

96-year-old Mahendra Prasad was spotted at a booth in Munger. Helped by family members, he arrived at the polling station on a wheel chair.

Two other noneganarians were seen coming for voting on horseback in Samastipur.

A CRPF commandant, identified as P K Mishra, and his body guard Mantu Kumar were injured in a road mishap in Munger district while patrolling for the elections.

The motor-cycle borne commandant and the jawan were injured when they lost control of the vehicle in order to save an animal, Mishra, who has been admitted to Sadar hospital, said.

A total number of 1.35 crore voters are expected to cast their votes for 49 assembly seats for which 583 candidates, including 54 women, candidates are in the fray.

While voting started at 7 a.m in all 12686 booths in 49 seats, it will end at 3 PM in nine constituencies - Tarapur, Jamalpur, Suryagraha, Rajauli (SC), Govindpur, Sikandara (SC), Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai.

Polling in four constituencies - Alauli(SC), Beldaur, Katoria (ST), Belhar - will end at 4 p.m.

The polling for the remaining 36 constituencies will be end at 5 p.m.