The third and final phase of assembly elections is underway in Bihar in which stakes are quite high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is up against multiple rivals, including former ally Chirag Paswan. At least 1,204 candidates are contesting for the 78 assembly seats spread across 19 districts, in the final phase. Some of the prominent candidates in this phase are the BJP’s Niraj Kumar Singh in Chhatapur seat, cousin of actor Sushant Singh Rajput; Congress’s Bihariganj candidate Subhashini Sharad Yadav, daughter of former Union minister Sharad Yadav and Janata Dal United’s Sarairanjan candidate Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who is also the Bihar assembly Speaker. Voting is also being held for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat, where a by-election was necessitated by the death of JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahato.
The state registered 34.82% voter turnout till 1pm even as BJP president J P Nadda appealed to people to vote in large numbers for development of Bihar. “Last phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections is taking place today. I appeal to people to vote in large numbers and vote for development of Bihar. People should ensure their participation in grand festival of democracy while keeping Covid-related precautions in mind,” Nadda tweeted.
Polling is underway in 78 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the third and final phase of state elections in which 2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates. Voting for the first phase was held on October 28 and for the second phase on November 3. Results will be out on November 10. The polls will decide the fate of the ruling NDA (that is trying to avert the anti-incumbency factor) and the opposition Grand Alliance led by an apparently resurgent RJD. As soon as the polling ends in the evening, News18 will begin broadcasting the exit polls from 7pm that would predict the winner based on responses of people who have cast their votes.