Bihar ready for 2nd phase of polls

PATNA: All arrangements have been completed for the second phase of Assembly elections in the state on Sunday. Forty five constituencies spread over six districts of Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Darbhanga and Samastipur will go to polls in this phase. Most of these areas are Naxal affected.

Out of 10,315 polling stations, 3,784 are supersensitive. In Muzaffarpur district polling will be held till 3 pm as constituencies falling under it— Minapur, Paroo and Sahebganj—are Naxal affected. After Friday’s Naxal attack in Sheohar, the Election Commission has decided that polling in this district will end at 3 pm instead of 5 pm.

In other constituencies, polling will be from 7 am to 5 pm. Director General of Police Neelmani said jawans of Central Para-Military Forces are being deployed on all booths to ensure free and fair polls. State’s border with Nepal has already been sealed to prevent any infiltration of anti social elements. He said jawans of Special task Force would also keep air surveillance from two helicopters to ensure trouble free polls.

Meanwhile Chief Electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh has appealed people of the state to come forward in large numbers and exercise their right of franchise without any apprehension. Rakesh said elaborate arrangements have been made for poll. 

Over 98 lakhs electorates will decide the electoral fate of 623 candidates, including 46 women.

Political bigwigs in fray include state RJD Chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui and his Jantal Dal (United) counterpart Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. Congress legislature Party leader Ashok Kumar is facing challenge from LJP candidate Ramchandra Paswan in Kusweshwarsthan constituency. 

Three ministers Sahid Ali Khan, Dinesh Prasad and Ramnath Thakur are also in the contest. The Congress and the BSP are contesting all seats. The rulling JD (U) is contesting 28 seats and its ally BJP 17.

The RJD is in the fray in 34 Assembly constituencies and its ally LJP in 11.The CPI and CPM have put up eight candidates each while CPI (ML) is contesting in 11 seats.