Bihar Polls: 23.77% Turnout till 12 pm in 3rd Phase

Patna: An estimated 23.77 per cent of the total 2.35 crore electors exercised their franchise till 12 pm in the 78 assembly seats of Bihar where polling is underway in the third and final phase of elections on Saturday. The poll opened at 7 am in these seats spread across 15 districts of north Bihar. According to the Election Commission, the polling percentage at 11 am was 19.77, which is higher than the corresponding figures for the first phase (18.48) and the second phase (19.26) of polls.

The maximum turnout of 24.87 per cent till 12 pm has been recorded in the Araria district, and the minimum in Darbhanga (13.23). In Araria, RJD candidate from Jokihat seat, Sarfaraz Alam, courted controvery by turning up for voting with a party badge pinned in his shirt which is violation of the model code of conduct.

When asked about it, Alam smirked and did not make any comment. Araria District Magistrate Prashant Kumar said the matter has come to his knowledge and lawful action would be initiated in the incident. Alam, elder son of former union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin is pitted against his younger brother Mohammad Sahnawaz who is in fray from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM party. In Purnea, police had to fire in air to chase away people trying to disturb voting outside a booth under Dhamdaha assembly segment.