Bihar elections: 57% turnout in first phase, voting peaceful

Most of the constituencies that vote in the opening round are JD(U) strongholds — it won 29 seats here in alliance with the BJP in 2010.

The JD(U) is contesting 24 seats in the first phase under the new alignment and will be keen to know if the party, steered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been able to attract key segments, including EBCs, Mahadalits and, most importantly, the Yadavs — an early indication of whether its tie-up with Lalu Prasad’s RJD has worked at the ground level.

WATCH VIDEO: Bihar Elections 2015

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The RJD, which has fielded 17 candidates here, won only four seats here last time but gained ground by winning two of the eight Lok Sabha segments, wresting Banka and Bhagalpur from BJP in 2014.

Also read: 85,000 under-30 voters per seat, five times the win margin of 2010

On the other side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the NDA charge by addressing a string of rallies leading to the first phase in which the BJP has fielded 27 candidates — it won 13 seats in this segment in 2010 — followed by Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP with 13.

Highlights: 

6:19 pm: 57% turnout in first phase, voting peaceful

5:00 pm: Voting ends for phase one polling in Bihar.

4:00 pm: Unidentified men fired at LJP candidate Vijay Kumar Singh in Jamui constituency but he escaped unhurt. Police arrest one of the criminals involved in the attack.

3: 30 pm: 49% poll percentage recorded till 3 pm for the first phase.

3:30 pm: Polling sealed off in the naxal affected Jamui (Bihar) at 3pm.

3:12 pm: 46 percent voting recorded till 2 pm.

FLASH: 46% poll percentage recorded till 2 pm for the first phase of #BiharPolls.

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

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2:00pm: Meanwhile, PM Modi addresses rally in Bhabhua.

Now I know why I was not being allowed to come to Bhabua, the huge crowds and support here are the reasons-PM Modi

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

PM Modi addressing a rally in Bhabua #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/Ty6nbChbnM

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

1.00 pm:

The voter turn-out in the first phase of polling has almost touched the 40 per cent mark, at 39.01 per cent, according to data released by the Bihar state election commission.

Here’s the district-wise break-up:

12.30 pm:

11.00 am:

First phase of #Biharpolls: Polling percentage recorded till 10 am – 20.15%

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

10.00 am:

9.30 am:

Polling underway for first phase of #Biharpolls: People help a senior citizen cast his vote in Munger. pic.twitter.com/Fo7b7luVqK

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

9.10 am:

Bihar polls: 85,000 voters in each seat are under-30yrs. That’s 5 times the winning margin of 2010. http://t.co/KF6NdYmoIN @IndianExpress

— Ritika Chopra (@KhurafatiChopra) October 12, 2015

9.00 am:

#Biharpolls Polling temporarily halted at Ramchandrapur booth number 86 in Sarairanjan constituency, due to EVM malfunction.

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

8.40 am:

NEW DELHI : BIHAR PHASE CONSTITUENCIES. PTI GRAPHICS(PTI10_11_2015_000037B)

8.20 am:

Lakhisarai: Voters stand in long queue outside a polling booth to cast their votes for first phase of #Biharpolls pic.twitter.com/jkiiswg3lU

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

8.10 am:

7.45 am:

Urging all those voting today in Bihar to vote in large numbers. I particularly urge my young friends to cast their vote.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2015

7.40 am:

Polling underway for 1st phase of #Biharpolls: Voters lined up outside a polling booth in Bhagalpur pic.twitter.com/kbhGyNRn5K

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

7.25 am:

First phase of #Biharpolls: Polling underway in Bhagalpur. pic.twitter.com/lt94B2DIAc

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015

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