6 months ago
73
ARTICLE AD BOX
NEW DELHI: The archetypal signifier of the Bihar assembly elections connected Thursday recorded the state’s highest-ever elector turnout, with 64.66 per cent of 3.75 crore electors exercising their franchise crossed 121 constituencies.
The Election Commission said polling concluded peacefully “in a festive temper with the highest-ever elector turnout of 64.66 per cent successful the past of Bihar”. Bihar's main electoral serviceman Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said women voters participated successful ample numbers with “a batch of enthusiasm”.Several salient leaders, including Yadav, lawman main ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and a fig of ministers, were among the 1,314 candidates contesting successful this phase.
Violence, accusations and counter-claims
Stray incidents were reported during polling, including an alleged onslaught connected a conveyance successful lawman Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy. Sinha, seeking a 4th consecutive word from Lakhisarai, alleged that RJD supporters tried to “intimidate” highly backward people voters.Sinha lashed retired astatine the Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police (SP) and demanded the deployment of a "special force" aft his convoy was attacked by radical helium claimed were supporters of the absorption Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
He besides had a heated verbal spat with RJD MLC Ajay Kumar. The 2 leaders were seen hurling abuses astatine each different arsenic their convoys came face-to-face. As the RJD MLC accused Sinha of being a "criminal", alleging that helium was trying to intimidate voters, Sinha deed back, calling Kumar a "failed leader" and "drunk." The second dismissed the "drunk" charge, saying that it was "Mahua" (local liquor).On the different hand, the RJD alleged connected X that voting had been “deliberately slowed down” successful areas wherever the INDIA bloc is believed to person beardown support.
The Election Commission rejected the accusation.At the Manjhi assembly constituency successful the Saran district, a conveyance of CPM campaigner Dr Satyendra Yadav, representing the Grand Alliance, was attacked by miscreants during the archetypal signifier of polling. The onslaught resulted successful the shattering of his SUV's windows, creating a chaotic ambiance successful the area. The incidental occurred successful Jaitpur colony nether Daudpur constabulary presumption area, portion Yadav was connected a circuit of his constituency.A notable diagnostic of this predetermination was the beingness of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. Kishor has promised to marque Bihar “among the top-ranking ones successful the country” and has said helium intends to scrap the prohibition law, arguing that it has weakened the state’s resources.
Record turnouts
Polling took spot crossed 18 districts. Muzaffarpur recorded the highest turnout astatine 70.96 per cent, followed by Samastipur astatine 70.63 per cent. Madhepura recorded 67.21 per cent, Vaishali 67.37 per cent, Saharsa 66.84 per cent, Khagaria 66.36 per cent, Lakhisarai 65.05 per cent, Munger 60.40 per cent, Siwan 60.31 per cent, Nalanda 58.91 per cent, and Patna 57.93 per cent.
Lower turnout successful municipality Patna was attributed to areas specified arsenic Bankipur, Digha, and Kumhrar.According to the Election Commission, the state’s lowest turnout was 42.6 per cent successful the 1951-52 assembly polls, portion the erstwhile highest was 62.57 per cent successful 2000. The turnout stood astatine 57.29 per cent successful 2020, 56.91 per cent successful 2015, and 52.73 per cent successful 2010.
Campaigns prime up much heat
As the run moves into its last phase, caste and assemblage loyalties proceed to play a decisive role, with Yadavs, Kushwahas, Kurmis, Brahmins, and Dalits shaping outcomes successful respective constituencies.The NDA is banking connected main curate Nitish Kumar’s governance grounds and caller payment measures specified arsenic 125 units of escaped electricity, Rs 10,000 currency transfers to much than 1 crore women, and an summation successful societal information pensions. The absorption countered that voters were acceptable for change. RJD president Lalu Prasad posted connected X, “If a roti is not flipped connected a tawa (pan), it gets burnt. Twenty years is simply a agelong time. A Tejashwi authorities is indispensable to physique a caller Bihar.”During run events for the 2nd phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the precocious pistillate turnout signalled enactment for the ruling alliance.“Mothers, daughters, and sisters person been the worst sufferers of 'jungle raj'. Today, they look to person enactment up a fortress astir polling booths to forestall the instrumentality of 'jungle raj',” PM Modi said.The polls, conducted aft the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that absorption parties criticised for alleged “rigging” and “manipulation”, are being viewed arsenic an aboriginal indicator of governmental sentiment up of 2029.The NDA, which has held powerfulness successful the authorities for 2 decades but for little intervals, is highlighting its grounds of “sushasan” (good governance). The absorption INDIA bloc is relying connected anti-incumbency and RJD person Tejashwi Yadav’s “jobs-for-every-home” committedness to equine its challenge. The 2nd and last signifier volition instrumentality spot connected November 11, and the counting volition beryllium held connected November 14.
