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Bihar Elections 2020 HIGHLIGHTS | With 53.54 per cent voter turnout first phase of polling ends

At the end of first phase of elections, the voter turnout data showed that close to 54 per cent of total electorates have cast their votes.
Voters are screened for body temperature before being allowed to vote, outside a polling station at Masaudhi, Bihar. (Photo | AP)
Voters are screened for body temperature before being allowed to vote, outside a polling station at Masaudhi, Bihar. (Photo | AP)
Online Desk

The much-awaited Bihar assembly election 2020's first phase of voting ended with 53.54 per cent voter turnout seen in 71 seats at 6 pm.

The candidates in the fray in the first phase include 952 men and 114 women.

As many as 33 of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase have been declared as 'sensitive or hypersensitive' constituencies, the Election Commission of India said.

Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for safe conduct of Bihar Assembly Elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the elections happened, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed three rallies across the state while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi atttended two meetings.

The Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday thanked the voters for turning up under such dire situation during the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

To follow more updates on Bihar Elections 2020, click here.

Voter turnout at 6 pm, end of first phase of polling

I want to thank Bihar voters: Chief Election Commissioner

The Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday thanked the voters for turning up under such dire situation during the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

Excerpts from the ECI press meet:

  • Despite the pandemic, the voter turnout is projected to be more than the last Assembly elctions and Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

  • Stray incidents of EVM snags have been sorted at minimum possible time.

  • 85,368 people used the option of postal voting which was providied to citizens above the age of 80 and specially-abled people.

    • Polling personnel wearing PPE in the last hour of voting

    Voter turnout at 5 pm

    The voter turnout in Bihar Assembly elections is at 51.91 per cent with highest polling recorded at Jamui with over 57 per cent polling at 5 pm.

    Here's the full voter turnout data at 5 pm

    PM Modi will make Bihar 'developed' state if NDA voted to power: CM Nitish in rally

    Lavishing praise on Modi, Kumar referred to a slew of projects to assert that the people of Bihar can never forget what he has done for the state.

    "Listening to his (Modi's) appeal, if you give the NDA one more chance to work in the state, then you take it for sure that he will transform it into a developed state. Bihar with march ahead," he said. (READ MORE)

    Small shopkeepers, youths, farmers angry with PM Modi, CM Nitish: Rahul Gandhi

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said there was anger among small shopkeepers, youths, farmers and labourers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar.

    He said the people of Bihar gave 15 years to Nitish Kumar as chief minister and six years to Modi as Prime Minister yet "Bihar is the poorest state". (READ MORE)

    If you want to dream, go to other parts of India, says Rahul Gandhi

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during the second leg of his campaign for Bihar assembly elections, at Gyaspur in Darbhanga district. (Photo | PTI)
    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during the second leg of his campaign for Bihar assembly elections, at Gyaspur in Darbhanga district. (Photo | PTI)

    If you want to dream, go to other parts of India. If you want work, you've to go to Mumbai. And once you goto Mumbai, Punjab and one day Modi will come on tv and say Rs500, Rs 1000 notes are not fine and I will ban it. You all remember standing outside bank right?: Rahul Gandhi at Darbhanga rally

    Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Darbhanga

    Only NDA can fulfil aspirations of poor, middle class in Bihar: PM Modi at Gaya rally

    The Prime Minister said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that the definition of electricity in Bihar is that the connection here is mostly out of the place. The darkness of the lantern period has now ended in the state, he added.

    "Who can fulfill the aspirations of the poor and middle class of Bihar? Can those who looted Bihar do it? Those who only thought of their families and did injustice to everyone can never understand Bihar's expectations. Only NDA can do it," said PM Modi.

    WATCH | At 3pm voter turnout at 46%, covid norm violated at booths

    The voter turnout in Bihar Assembly elections is at 46.29 per cent with highest polling recorded at Ramgarh constituency with over 56 per cent voting.

    Single vote you can save Bihar from becoming 'bimar': PM Modi at Patna

    "Just like you can save your self from COVID-19 with a mask, similarly with a single vote you can save Bihar from becoming 'bimar'," said PM Modi while addressing a public rally in Patna.

    Quotes from PM's speech:

  • Due to the efforts of the NDA government, Bihar has come a long way from inconvenience to convenience, from darkness to light, from distrust to trust, from kidnapping of industries to opportunities

  • If there was no 'Trishakti' of Jan Dhan, aadhaar and mobile, then in the corona period, the ration rights of poor people of Bihar would have been usurped, like previous years

    • (ANI inputs)

    BJP files complaint against Rahul Gandhi over his tweet

    PM Modi doesn't talk about giving jobs to youth now: Rahul Gandhi

    Addressing his rally at Valmiki Nagar, the former Congress president said the prime minister and the Bihar chief minister used to raise the issue of unemployment earlier but no longer now.

    "Now, the PM does not say in his speeches that he would give two crore jobs. Because the people of Bihar have realised that he had lied. I can guarantee that if the PM comes today and promises two crore jobs to youths, perhaps the crowd would shoo him off, telling him that he had lied," Gandhi said. (READ MORE)

    Demonetisation, lockdown aimed at destroying small farmers, business: Rahul Gandhi

    The motive of demonetisation & lockdown was the same. It was aimed at destroying small farmers, small businesses, traders and labourers, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a rally at Balmiki Nagar, Bihar.

    Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi votes

    Tejashwi Yadav 'yuvraj' of 'jungle raj', says PM Modi at rally

    Addressing his second rally of the day, Modi cautioned the people that a return of the "jungle raj" will bring a double whammy for the state in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. (READ MORE)

    WATCH | On voting day, Mahagathbandhan 'condemns' Munger police firing incident

    Bihar records 33.10% turnout till 1 PM

    As per the provisional voter turnout data updated by the Election Commission at 1 PM, 33.10 per cent of the total electorates have exercised their franchise.

    The maximum 40.16 per cent turnout has been recorded in Lakhisarai, followed by Nawada (38.08%) and Patna, Jamui and Bhagalpur (over 34 per cent). (READ MORE)

    Here is why Balgudar villagers in Lakhisarai district boycotted elections

    Bihar Minister and BJP candidate Kumar Sinha said that that good governance is visible but the atmosphere of boycott that has been created in some places is "sponsored".
    (READ DETAILED ARTICLE HERE)

    While people exercised their right to vote, not all were seen wearing masks

    Voters show their fingers marked with indelible ink at a polling station after casting their votes for the first phase Bihar Assembly Elections, at Naubatpur in Patna. (Photo | PTI)

    Those who used to taunt us now forced to clap: Modi rakes up Ayodhya, 'jungle raj' at Bihar rally

    Noting that voting was underway in several assembly segments in the first phase of elections, Modi urged the people to stay safe and take precautions in view of the COVID 19 pandemic while exercising their franchise.
    (READ DETAILED ARTICLE HERE)

    As Bihar votes, Shashi Tharoor reminds voters of migrant crisis during COVID-19 lockdown

    'The tears in your eyes, the blisters on your feet. Do you remember everything? The ones who are voting today,' senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter in Hindi.

    FIR Against BJP's Prem Kumar for wearing party symbol mask at polling booth

    Prem Kumar, who is the sitting MLA from Gaya, had come on a bicycle to cast his vote while wearing a mask with the party's lotus symbol. Officials on poll duty caught the minister in a clear cut violation of the code of conduct. (READ MORE)

    (Photo | ANI)

    Technical glitches in 75 EVMs hassle voters in phase 1 polling

  • Voters waited in queues of over an hour and some even returned home without casting votes as technical snags affected the functioning of over 75 EVMs or VVPATs in Munger, Arwal, Gaya and Nawada districts

  • Voters in Gaya, Jahanabad, Aurangabad, Jamui, Bhabhua, Sasaram, Baka, Kaimur also complained of technical and other errors in EVMs

  • Due to this, polling started late by 30 minutes to 2 hours at several places

    • (Inputs from IANS)

    Nitish will ditch BJP to join RJD after poll results: Chirag Paswan attacks Bihar CM again

    Firing a fresh salvo at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that he and his party Janata Dal (United) have done preparations to ditch the BJP and join Rashtriya Dal Party (RJD) after the poll results are out.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    18.31 per cent turnout till 11.00 am, Lakhisarai records highest at 26.28 per cent

  • The districts that are witnessing higher voter turnout include Lakhisarai with 26.28 per cent and Nawada with 23.87 per cent till 11.20 am

  • Patna with 5.96 per cent along with Bhagalpur with 6.84 per cent has recorded the lowest voter turnout till now.

  • This is the first election that is being held amid COVID-19 pandemic.

    • (Inputs from Election Commission of India)

    Amid Phase 1 polling, PM Modi addresses rally at Darbhanga

    As per ECI rules, every voter to undergo temperature checks before voting

    (Photo | PTI)

    Tejashwi Yadav poses 11 questions to PM Modi ahead of his rally in poll-bound Bihar

    'PM is coming to Muzaffarpur. Will his combined government in Delhi and Patna speak on the Muzaffarpur shelter home case in which the Chief Minister is providing protection to the accused in the rape of 34 orphan girls?' read one of the questions.
    (READ DETAILED ARTICLE HERE)

    At Paligang constituency in Patna, voters follow social distancing

    (Photo | PTI)

    Polling agent dies of cardiac arrest, man dies while waiting to vote in Patna

    The report of the voter's death came from Sasaram and the deceased has been identified as 65-year-old Hira Mahato. He was the resident of Udaipur and died at polling station number 151 located in a Sanjhaul school where he had come to vote.
    (READ FULL ARTICLE HERE)

    'CM is now playing the role of General Dyer': LJP Chief attacks Nitish Kumar on Munger firing incident

    'Who is responsible for the firing & lathicharge incident in Munger? Chief Minister is now playing the role of General Dyer who ordered the Jallianwalah massacre. I am sure CM is responsible for the incident, an investigation should be done,' said LJP chief Chirag Paswan while talking to reporters during phase 1 of polling.

    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rakes up Munger firing on polling day

    BJP Jamui candidate Shreyasi Singh casts votes

    (Photo | ANI)

    JP Nadda asks voters to take part in festival of democracy

    BJP President JP Nadda on Wednesday appealed to voters to participate in this grand festival of democracy while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. In a tweet, he said the right to cast vote is the biggest strength of democracy.
    (READ DETAIL HERE)

    Voter turnout recorded till 9.00 am

    Chirag Paswan factor to be tested in first phase

    The Chirag Paswan factor will be tested on Wednesday, as the LJP has fielded candidates on 41 seats of which 35 shall see direct contest with the JD-U in the first phase of the Bihar elections.
    (READ DETAILED ARTICLE HERE)

    For justice, employment, vote only for Mahagathbandhan: Rahul Gandhi's message to voters in Bihar

    5 per cent voter turnout recorded till 8.00 am

    (Photo | ANI)

    Nitish Kumar’s Lalu barb touches raw nerve as Political propriety goes for a toss

    It is not the first time that the two leaders have traded barbs at each other. In a free-for-all and no-holds-barred slugfest, Nitish had earlier taken a dig at Tejashwi saying “ask your father or mother if they made any school or college when they had the chance.” But the new statement was a new low given that a veteran like Nitish, known for dignified speeches, made a personal attack against ailing RJD president Lalu Prasad.
    (READ FULL ARTICLE HERE)

  • Chief electoral officer HR Shrinivas hoped that polling percentage will 'certainly go up' as a lot of safety protocols and arrangements have been made for the voters by poll personnel.

    • (Inputs from ENS)

    Right to vote is for all, CRPF jawans helping people do just that

    CRPF jawans helping differently-abled and elderly voters at Booth number 10 in Chakarbandha district

    (Photo | ANI)

    WATCH | Masks, temperature checks, social distancing made mandatory in polling stations

    How Bihar is ensuring a 'safe and secure' election during pandemic

    The experiences of many countries, including New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka has given the confidence that elections can be held during a pandemic if all protocols in place. But we will know if they can be in India too only once the Bihar polls are over.
    (READ DETAILS HERE)

  • 33 of 71 seats, in the first phase of Bihar elections, have been declared as 'hypersensitive' by Election Commission of India

    • (Inputs from PTI)

  • Voting at polling booth no. 170 in Jehanabad delayed after a glitch was detected in EVM

    • (Inputs from ANI)

    WATCH | Will Left parties make a difference in Kanhaiya Kumar's land?

  • Polling percentage picks up in first phase of Bihar elections with 4 per cent turnout reported from Patna's five assembly seats so far

    • (Inputs from ENS)

    'Voting first, breakfast later': PM Modi urges citizens to exercise their right to vote

    I urge all voters to ensure their participation in this festival of democracy while taking precautions against COVI19, tweets PM Narendra Modi in Hindi.

    Union Minister Giriraj Singh casts his vote in Phase 1 Bihar election

    In a tweet, written in Hindi, he said 'first vote, then do other work.'

    From ruling NDA to Opposition 'Mahagathbandhan', everything you need to know

    For everyone keen on knowing their Bihar better, here then is our primer on the major alliances. (READ DETAILS HERE)

    This is the first time state assembly elections in India are being carried out amid pandemic

    Polls for first phase begins, 1,066 candidates in fray for 71 seats

  • Of the nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are categorised as third gender, according to data provided by the Election Commission.

  • Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for safe conduct of the electoral exercise in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

    • (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

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