Polling has begun for 49 constituencies in the first of the five-phase voting for the Bihar Assembly on Monday. A total number of 1,35,72,339 electorate will exercise their franchise as 583 candidates, including 54 women, will try their luck.
- 7 am to 3 PM — Tarapur, Jamalpur, Suryagraha, Rajauli (SC), Govindpur, Sikandara (SC), Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai
- 7 am to 4 pm — Alauli (SC), Beldaur, Katoria (ST), Belhar
- 7 am to 5 pm — Remaining 36 seats
- Duration of polling hours have been shortened in 13 constituencies due to law and order situation in the Naxal-hit areas.
- Total electors: 1,35,72,339 including 72,37,253 male, 63,17,602 female and 405 third gender
- Candidates by political parties in phase 1: BSP 41, BJP 27, CPI 25, RJD 17, LJP 13, CPI-M 12, Congress 8, RLSP 6
- Polling stations: 13,212 including critical 7,384, Naxal-hit 2,255
- Election personnel engaged: 63,624
- Central Paramilitary Forces: 1.20 lakh
- Constituencies: 49 in nine districts
- Five helicopters including three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and 33 motor boats have been deployed for air surveillance.
2010 results:
Janata Dal (United) 29
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 13
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) 4
- A win in Bihar will give BJP more seats in Rajya Sabha where Opposition parties unitedly enjoy majority, making it tough for the Modi govt pass key reformist legislations
- A loss in Bihar will give Opposition an upper hand and foment dissent in BJP against Modi
- BJP is looking to consolidate upper caste vote and pins hopes on driving Mahadalit votes away from JD(U), thanks to ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi
- Grand Alliance banking on Muslims, who account for 17% of Bihar’s electorate, Yadavs and Kurmis
