21.11% voting registered in Bihar till 11 am.

Patna, May 20, 2024: Voting picked up momentum in Bihar as the poll body recorded 21.11% polling till 11 a.m. across five Lok Sabha constituencies, including Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur on Monday.

The polling began at 7 a.m., and the turnout was 8.86% till 9 a.m.

According to official data, Sitamarhi registered the highest turnout at 22.70% followed by Muxaffarpur (22.45%), Madhubani (22.37%), Saran (20.75%) and Hajipur (17.36%). Chief Electoral Officer H.R. Srinivasa said voting was proceeding peacefully with no report of violence.

The poll body appealed to people to reach the polling stations to use their voting rights:

“After two days of intense heat, the weather has improved. I appeal to all voters to step out and participate in this festival of democracy,” Srinivasa said, adding that all EVMs and VVPATs were functioning smoothly with only a few technical complaints reported so far.

Sitamarhi: NDA versus Grand Alliance:

A close contest is underway between JDU candidate Devesh Chandra Thakur, chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council, and RJD’s Arjun Rai.

Sitamarhi has six assembly constituencies. Three held by the BJP, two by JDU and one by RJD.

The administration has deployed police forces and magistrates at every booth for peaceful voting.

Muzaffarpur: BJP’s Raj Bhushan Nishad versus Congress’s Ajay Nishad:

In Muzaffarpur, 1574 polling stations have been set up, including 626 sensitive booths. Over 8,900 polling personnel and 210 sector officers have been deployed.

A total of 18.58 lakh voters are eligible to vote.

BJP’s Raj Bhushan Nishad faces Congress Ajay Nishad in a high-profile rematch of 2019, when Ajay Nishad won on a BJP ticket before switching sides.

Madhubani: Ashok Yadav versus Ali Ashraf Fatmi:

In Madhubani, 19.34 lakh voters are deciding the fate of 26 candidates. The main contest is between BJP’s sitting MP Ashok Yadav and RJD’s Ali Ashraf Fatmi, who defected from JDU ahead of the polls.

Saran: Rohini Acharya versus Rajiv Pratap Rudy:

In Saran, 17.95 lakh voters will use their voting rights, and 14 candidates are in the fray for this seat.

The key battle is between RJD’s Rohini Acharya, daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav and BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who is eyeing a third consecutive victory.

Hajipur: Chirag Paswan versus Shiv Chandra Ram:

In Hajipur, considered the traditional stronghold of the Paswan family, Chirag Paswan of the LJP (Ram Vilas) is contesting against RJD’s Shiv Chandra Ram.

The seat, with 19.49 lakh voters and 1917 voting stations, has a heavy security deployment, including 58 companies of central forces.

The constituency comprises six assembly segments, including Hajipur, Mahnar, Raghopur, Rajapakar, Lalganj and Mahua.

Hajipur holds symbolic significance for the Paswan family—Ram Vilas Paswan won from here 8 times between 1977 to 2014, while his brother Pashupati Kumar Paras won in 2019.

Also Read: 21.68% polling registered in Bihar till 11 am.

EOM.