The second phase of assembly polls in Bihar ended with 53.51 per cent voting in 94 constituencies on Tuesday evening.
In these 94 seats, spread across 17 districts, 1,463 candidates are in the fray and nearly 10 per cent (146) are women and one transgender.
The polling for the second phase will seal the fate of many high-profile candidates including the RJD's CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav, his brother Tej Pratap Yadav, four ministers from the current JDU government and the son of senior politician and actor Shatrughan Sinha, Luv, among others.
Amid voting, the high-voltage campaigning also took place throughout the day with PM Narendra Modi, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing rallies in the state.
The first phase, that took place on October 28, had recorded nearly 54 per cent voter turnout.
46.78 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in the second phase of Bihar Elections 2020.
There is a group of people that doesn't want you to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' or 'Jai Shri Ram.' All of them have now come together & asking for votes from the people of Bihar. There's a need to give a befitting answer to such people in Bihar Elections 2020: PM Modi in Saharsa.
In the backdrop of young voters' much talked about dissatisfaction with what has been achieved by the government in the last 15 years, Modi said, "The last decade was spent in fulfilling avashyaktaaein (needs). The current one shall be devoted to meeting the aspirations (aakankshaaein)." (READ MORE)
A Sub Inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) on duty at a polling booth in the Lalganj assembly seat died of heart attack Tuesday, police and hospital sources said.
The security man felt acute pain in chest while he was on duty at booth number 181 following which he was taken to Hajipur sadar hospital, they said.
(PTI inputs)
Regarding the chances of Mahagathbandhan's success in the Bihar elections, RJD scion said, "People want a total change and tussle is, after all, a part of politics. People want Mahagathbandan and Tejashvi as the CM." (READ MORE)
Not just the country, Bihar is giving a message to the world. In COVID times, people are coming out in huge numbers to vote. This is democracy's power and every Bihari's devotion to it. Think tanks around the world will evaluate how deeply democracy is entrenched in Indian minds, says PM Modi
(ANI inputs)
The NDA government works to solve all the problems of all Bihar people. We plan to give 50 lakh homes for the poor: PM Modi
Remember before 10 years, they said Garibi hatao, if election came Congress said farmers will get loan waivers, when they meet traders - the message will be tax reduction. They made too many promises, in 10 years, they have not fulfilled even one of the promises: PM Modi
Today, Congress doesn't have 100 MPs even if you together Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, he added.
This will be PM Modi's last campaign day in Bihar and he will be addressing one more rally.
Taking to Twitter, the former Congress chief said that he will be in Bihar's Korha and Kishanganj on Tuesday and will talk about issues such as "growing unemployment", problems faced by farmers and a "weak economy". (READ MORE)
Technical glitch detected in VVPAT at polling booth no. 201 at Salaha Chandan village on Fuhia Ghat in Samastipur.
Just as in the heartland state of Bihar, where incumbent Nitish Kumar, though propped up by Modi’s BJP, is suddenly facing an unprecedented challenge from young Tejashwi Yadav, who’s aiming to be like Korak, the son of Tarzan, replaying the deeds of his redoubtable father Lalu Prasad, with an umbrella coalition with the Congress and Left. (READ MORE)
According to the state government, about 22 lakh migrant workers returned home by 1,600 special Shramik trains during the lockdown, with East Champaran district recording the highest figure of 1.53 lakh. The actual numbers are said to be much higher as thousands of workers left jobless overnight, walked and reached home even before the government began the exercise to map the returning migrants. (READ MORE)
In Patna, the turn up of the first time voters started gaining momentum with the start of polling. This time around 6 lakh first time voters are casting their votes.
(ENS inputs)
The voter turnout data released by ECI stated that at 9 AM around 8.05 per cent polling had taken place.
In the first phase of voting on October 9, the voter turnout was only near 7 per cent.
(ENS inputs)
Unemployment: According to CMIE data, the unemployment rate in Bihar is 10.2 per cent in September 2020. The number is higher than the national average and is among the lowest ranked states. With the reverse migration, the need to create jobs becomes more important issue for the state ahead of the elections. (READ MORE)
Mayank Singh, college student from Ashoka university, after casting his vote said that it was a great feeling to be take part in festival of democracy.
In neighbouring Hajipur-the district headquarters of Vaishali, voters were seen coming out, especially the young and the first time voters.
(ENS inputs)
Earlier, voters were angry with Tejashwi who had seldom visited Raghopur since his election in 2015. But they are now warming to him as a future chief minister. (READ MORE)
The RJD has 56 candidates in the fray this phase, the BJP 46, the JD(U) 43, the RLSP 36 and the Congress 24.
This phase is also very crucial for Chirag Paswan- led Lok Janshakti Party which has fielded 52 candidates.
In the outgoing assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds only 20 of the 94 seats that are up for grabs.