Bihar: first phase of polling passes off peacefully

In Bihar, the first phase of polling passed off peacefully.71 constituencies went to poll in this phase. Around 53.54 per cent of eligible voters exercised their franchise till 6 p.m. This is the first election in the country amid COVID pandemic situation.  Thermal screening of all persons is being carried out and sanitizers have been made available at allocations during polling. All polling booths have been sanitized. Over 2.14 crore electorate will decide fate of 1,066 candidates. Political fortunes of eight Cabinet Ministers including Prem Kumar, Ram Narayan Mandal and Jai Kumar Singh will be decided in this phase. 

In NDA, BJP is contesting on 29 seats, JD(U) 35 and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) six seats.The Vikas Sheel InsaanParty (VIP) has fielded one candidate. Among the Grand Alliance partners, RJD is contesting on 42 seats, while Congress has fielded 21candidates.The CPI-ML has eight candidates in fray.  Besides, LJP has fielded 42 candidates while RLSP on 43 and BSP on 27 seats. This phase is crucial for RJD, as the party had bagged 27 seats in 2015 Assembly elections. JD(U) won18 seats while BJP 13 and Congress nine seats.Elections are being held in three phases for the 243-member Bihar Assembly.