The crucial second phase of Bihar poll for 94 seats across 17 districts of the state began on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Huge deployment of security forces are on each polling booths. Election will end at 6 pm due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Voting is also underway for by-elections to 54 assembly constituencies spread across 10 states, including 28 seats in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP is locked in a keen contest with the Congress to save its government.
Here are the latest updates:
Bihar Assembly election | 54% turnout for second phase of polls
The second phase of elections for 94 seats across 17 districts in Bihar ended peacefully on Tuesday though there were some reports of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioning.
Top party leaders across the spectrum continued campaigning for third and final phase of polls on November 7.
The voters turnout till 6 p.m. was over 54.05 % . In first phase poll for 71 seats voters turnout was over 55 % which was higher that the figures for the 2015 Assembly election.
Meanwhile, top leaders including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), Prime Minister Narendra Modi of BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav continued campaigning for third phase of 78 seats.
'Nov. 3 polling largest in the world during COVID-19 pandemic'
Election Commission Secretary-General Umesh Sinha :
“Polling was held in largest phase of Bihar Assembly elections and by-elections were also held in 54 Assembly seats in 10 States.
“Today's polling was the largest in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic so far.”
Deputy Election Commissioner in charge of Bihar Chandra Bhushan Kumar :
“2.85 crore electors were eligible to vote for the 94 constituencies spread over 17 districts in Phase 2 of Bihar polls.
“Polling has now been conducted in 165 constituencies out of total 243.
“932 polling stations were operated by all women officials.
"Seizures worth ₹65.22 crore have been made till today. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, it was ₹16.68 crore and during the 2015 Assembly polls it was ₹23.81 crore."
Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain:
“One case of paid news has been reported and FIRs have been filed in 447 cases in Madhya Pradesh bypolls.
“One case of firing has been reported in Morena today, but polling went on smoothly.
“There was a boycott by electors in two polling stations in Shivpuri district and one case of smashing of a control unit in Bhind district.
“Turnout is 53.51% in Bihar right now. Combined Phase 1 and 2 turnout was 53.71% at 5 p.m.
— Damini Nath
Bihar records over 51% polling till 5 p.m.
Over 51% of the total 2.85 crore electors in 94 constituencies of Bihar exercised their franchise till 5 p.m. in the second phase of voting on November 3, according to Election Commission data.
Among the 17 districts where these 94 seats are located, the highest poll percentage of 54.89 has been recorded in Muzaffarpur, according to the Election Commission’s Voter Turnout App, updated till 5 p.m.
The lowest turnout of 39.65% has been reported from Patna district. Its Kumhrar, an urban constituency, has recorded just 27.91% voting.
The estimated overall turnout at 5 p.m. is 51.68% (provisional), the poll panel data said.
The turnout during the corresponding hours in the first phase on October 28 was 51.91%.
Vaishali district’s Raghopur, from where RJD leader and chief ministerial candidate of the opposition Grand Alliance Tejashwi Yadav is contesting, has recorded 54% polling, as per the EC data.
Hasanpur, from where Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav is in the fray, has recorded an estimated 54.25% votes till 5 p.m.
51% voting was recorded in Parsa from where JDU’s Chandrika Roy, the father of Tej Pratap’s estranged wife Aishwarya, is contesting. — PTI
Nagaland bypolls | 78.05% voting till 3 p.m. in two Assembly seats
Around 78.05% of total 43,242 voters exercised their franchise till 3 p.m. in by- elections to two Assembly seats in Nagaland amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Southern Angami-1 seat in Kohima district recorded 68.28% polling, while 87.82% of voters have cast their ballots in Pungro Kiphire constituency in Kiphire district. Polling began at 6 a.m. in both the seats, they said, adding no untoward incident has been reported so far.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said the final polling percentage will be declared at 6 p.m. — PTI
Odisha bypolls | 55.04% voting in two Assembly seats till 3 p.m.
Around 55.04% of total 4.67 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 3 p.m. in by-elections to two Assembly seats in Odisha amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Balasore seat reported 54.85% polling, while 55.23% of voters in Titrol constituency in Jagatsinghpur district have cast their ballots, they said.
Voting, which commenced at 7 a.m., is in progress in a peaceful manner. Errors found in VVPAT machines during mock polling at some places were corrected, a poll official said.
There was a marginal drop in turnout around noon, but voting is likely to pick up again, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S.K. Lohani said. — PTI
Jharkhand bypolls | 57.55% voting till 3 p.m. in two Assembly seats
Around 57.55% of total 5.63 lakh voters cast their ballots till 3 p.m. in by-elections to two Assembly seats in Jharkhand amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Dumka seat reported 59.10% turnout, while 56.30% of voters have cast their ballots in Bermo constituency of Bokaro district, they said. — PTI
U.P. bypolls | 41% polling till 3 p.m. in seven Assembly seats
Over 40% of the votes were cast till 3 p.m. in the ongoing by-elections to seven Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh where 88 candidates are contesting.
Till 11 a.m., just 18.49% of the voters had exercised their franchise. The figure went up to 41.03% by 3 p.m., the Election Commission said.
A total of 42.99% of the votes were cast in Bangarmau till 3 p.m., 40.30% in Bulandshahr, 41.06% in Deoria, 36.39% in Ghatampur, 42.30% in Malhani, 44.20% in Naugaon Sadat and 40% in Tundla. — PTI
The second phase of polling to the Bihar Assembly elections started early in the morning. Till 3 p.m. the vote percentage in Bihar was 44.51 per cent.
Estimated voter turnout for byelection to 28 Vidhan Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh stood at 56.9% at 4 p.m., says the Election Commission of India
Over 30% votes cast till 1 pm in U.P. bypolls
Over 30% votes were cast till 1 pm as voting was underway for by-elections to seven Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday in which 88 candidates are contesting.
Polling started at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and COVID-19 guidelines in place.
Till 11 am, just 18.49% voters had exercised their franchise. The figure went up to 30.41% by 1 pm, the Election Commission (EC) said.
The voting percentages till 1 pm were 33% in Bangarmau, 28.83% in Bulandshahr, 31.85% in Deoria, 24.50% in Ghatampur, 28% in Malhani, 35.70% in Naugaon Sadat and 31% in Tundla.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to voters to participate in the “mega festival of democracy“.
“Voting in the bypolls to seven assembly seats in UP has begun. All the voters must participate in the mega festival of democracy. Everyone should exercise caution and discharge the duty of casting vote,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
“Democracy will win, while coronavirus will be defeated,” the Chief Minister added.
Nagaland bypolls: 67.92% voting till 1 pm in two assembly seats
Around 67.92% of total 43,242 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in by- elections to two assembly seats in Nagaland on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Southern Angami-1 seat in Kohima district recorded 57.1% polling, while 78.75% of voters have cast their ballots in Pungro Kiphire constituency in Kiphire district. Polling began at 6 am in both the seats, they said, adding no untoward incident has been reported so far.
The fates of eight candidates in the two seats will be sealed in EVMs by 4 pm.
Adequate security personnel have been deployed and COVID-19 safety measures are in place for smooth conduct of the by-elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said.
According to Election Commission of India, the estimated voter turnout for the Madhya Pradesh bypolls is at 42.71%till 1 pm.
Bihar records nearly 33% polling till 1 pm; Nitish, Tejashwi cast votes
Nearly 33% of the total 2.85 crore electors exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Tuesday in 94 constutiencies of Bihar during the second phase of assembly elections.
The highest poll percentage of 41.25 has been recorded in Muzaffarpur among the 17 districts, where the 94 seats are located, according to the Election Commission’s Voter Turnout App, updated till 1 pm.
The lowest turnout so far has been reported from Darbhanga at 26.73%, followed by Patna at 28%.
The estimated overall turnout at 1 pm is 32.82%, the poll panel data said.
Vaishali district’s Raghopur, from where RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is contesting the elections in the second phase, has recorded 36.09 per cent votes in the first six hours, as per the EC data.
Hasanpur, from where Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav is in the fray, has recorded an estimated 38.83 per cent votes till 1 pm. Thirty one per cent voting was recorded in Parsa from where JDU’s Chandrika Roy, the father of Tej Pratap’s estranged wife Aishwarya, is contesting.
Jharkhand bypolls: 46.47% voting till 1 pm in two assembly seats
Around 46.47% of total 5.63 lakh voters cast their ballots till 1 pm in by-elections to two assembly seats in Jharkhand on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Dumka seat reported 46.96% turnout, while 46.07%t of voters cast their ballots in Bermo constituency of Bokaro district, they said.
Polling began at 7 am and no untoward incident has been reported so far, they said.
Electors were seen standing in queues in polling booths by maintaining social distancing. They were given masks, sanitiser and gloves, the officials said.
The fates of 12 candidates in Dumka and 16 in Bermo will be sealed in the EVMs by 5 pm.
Over 34% polling till 1 pm in Baroda bypoll in Haryana
A total of 14 candidates, including Olympian wrestler and BJP nominee Yogeshwar Dutt, are contesting the Baroda assembly bypoll in Haryana, where over 34% polling was registered till 1 pm on Tuesday.
Dutt, who cast his vote in the morning after performing ‘puja’ at his wrestling academy, is pitted against Congress’ Indu Raj Narwal. The Baroda seat has been a stronghold of the Congress party whose MLA Krishan Hooda had won the seat in the 2009, 2014 and 2019 assembly polls.
His death in April necessitated the bypoll, which started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
About 1.81 lakh people are eligible to vote in the by-election. The voter turnout was 34.67%t till 1 pm, according to data by the Election Commission.
40.52% voting in two assembly seats till 1 pm
Around 40.52 per cent of 4.67 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in by- elections to two assembly seats in Odisha on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Balasore seat reported 41.36 per cent polling, while 39.68 per cent of voters in Titrol constituency in Jagatsinghpur district have cast their ballots, they said.
Voting, which commenced at 7 am, is in progress in a peaceful manner. Errors found in VVPAT machines during mock polling at some places were corrected, a poll official said.
There was a marginal drop in turnout around noon, but voting is likely to pick up again, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S K Lohani said.
BSF official dies of heart attack at a Bihar polling booth
A Sub Inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) on duty at a polling booth in the Lalganj assembly seat died of heart attack on Tuesday.
The security man felt acute pain in chest while he was on duty at booth number 181 following which he was taken to Hajipur sadar hospital.
On reaching the hospital, the doctors declared him brought dead.
The 55-year-old deceased has been identified as K R Bhai, a resident of Vadodara in Gujarat.
19.26% polling till 11 am in second phase of Bihar Assembly polls
About 19.26 per cent votes were cast till 11 am as voting for second phase of Bihar Assembly polls began on Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Karnataka bypolls: 23.63% vote in Sira, 14.4% in R.R. Nagar till 11 am
Actor Avinash after casting his vote at Raja Rajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Voting for byelections to Sira and Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituencies commenced today on a moderate note so far. While Sira registered 23.63 per cent, RR Nagar has registered 14.4% polling till 11 am.
People started queuing up early to exercise their franchise in the election being held in the midst of COVID 19 pandemic. Congress candidate from RR Nagar H Kusuma was among the early to vote and she reached her polling booth in Mallathhalli after visiting a temple.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to make the elections safe, and those voters who are COVID 19 positives will be allowed to vote during the last hour of polling. Extensive eecurity arrangements have been made in R.R. Nagar where election fight has become bitter.
The bye polls has been necessitated due to death of Janata Dal Secular legislator B Sathyanarayan in Sira and resignation of Congress legislator Muniratna, who is now contesting on a BJP ticket.
Mr Muniratna is locked in contest with Ms. Kusuma and V. Krishna Murthy of JD S. In Sira, six legislator and former Minister T.B. Jayachandra is facing Ammajamma, the wife of late legislator Sathyanarayan, contesting on a JD S ticket, and radiologist Rajesh Gowda, son of three time MP from Chitradurga Moodalgiriyappa, on a BJP ticket. — Sharath S. Srivatsa
M.P. bypolls: 11.50% voter turnout till 10 am
Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders taking stock of the bypolls, at the party office in Bhopal on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
A total of 11.50 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 10 am on Tuesday for bypolls to 28 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, an election official said.
Polling began at 7 am with COVID-19 prevention protocols in place and will continue till 6 pm, he said.
“A total of 11.50 per cent voters cast their votes till 10 am in the state’s 19 districts where polling is going on,” the official said.
“No glitches were reported from anywhere during mock polling conducted before the beginning of voting,” he said.
The last hour of voting will be for COVID-19 patients and people suspected to be carrying the respiratory disease, he said.
A total of 355 candidates, including 12 ministers, were in the fray.
Nagaland bypolls: 35.15%voting till 9 am in two assembly seats
Around 35.15 per cent of voters cast their ballots in the first three hours of polling for by-elections to two assembly seats in Nagaland on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Southern Angami-1 seat in Kohima district recorded 35.5 per cent polling, while 34.8 per cent voters cast their ballots in Pungro Kiphire constituency in Kiphire district till 9 am. Polling began at 6 am in both the seats, they said.
The fates of eight candidates in the two seats will be sealed in EVMs by 4 pm.
The by-elections to Southern Angami-1 and Pungro Kiphire seats were necessitated following the deaths of the then Assembly speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu and T Torechu of the Naga People’s Front respectively.
13.28% voting till 9 am in two Jharkhand Assembly seats
Around 13.28 per cent of voters cast their ballots in the first two hours of polling for by-elections to two assembly seats in Jharkhand on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, election officials said.
Dumka seat reported 13.89 per cent turnout, while 12.67 per cent of voters cast their ballots in Bermo constituency of Bokaro district till 9 am, they said.
Polling began at 7 am and no untoward incident has been reported so far, they said.
The fates of 12 candidates in Dumka and 16 in Bermo will be sealed in the EVMs by 5 pm.
U.P. bypolls: About 8% polling till 9 am
About eight per cent votes were cast in the first two hours as voting for the bypolls to seven assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The polling started at 7 am amid tight security and special arrangements for COVID-19.
Till 9 am, 7.87 per cent voters had exercised their franchise, Ramesh Chandra Rai, joint chief electoral officer of UP, said.
The voting percentage in various assembly constituencies till 9 am was 8.27 per cent in Bangarmau, 7.80 per cent in Bulandshahr, 10.00 per cent in Deoria, 5.00 per cent in Ghatampur, 7.50 per cent in Malhani, 8.50 per cent in Naugaon Sadat and 8.00 per cent in Tundla.
The electoral fortune of 88 candidates, including nine women, will be decided by 24.34 lakh voters, including 13.03 lakh male voters, in these bypolls. The seats where the bypolls are being held are Tundla, Ghatampur, Naugaon Sadat, Bulandshahr, Bangarmau, Deoria and Malhani.
Six of these seats were held by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one by the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Do vote, so that new govt of your choice is formed: Rahul to Bihar voters
Women voters waiting to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in Danapur, near Patna on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged people to vote so that a new government of their choice can be formed.
Taking to Twitter, the former Congress chief said he will be in Bihar’s Korha and Kishanganj on Tuesday and will talk about issues such as “growing unemployment”, problems faced by farmers and a “weak economy“.
“Some districts in Bihar will be voting in the second phase of the polls. Do vote, so that a new government of your choice is formed,” Mr. Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Polling underway for Dubbak by-election in Telangana
Polling for Dubbak Assembly by-poll got underway on Tuesday with voters queuing up outside the booths to exercise their franchise.
Votingin Dubbak (in Siddipet district), around 100 km from here, began at 7 AM and expected to conclude at 6 PM at 315 polling stations..
Though 20 others are also in the fray, the main contest is among the candidates of the TRS, BJP and Congress.
The bypoll is necessitated by the death of sitting TRS MLA Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy due to health problems in August this year. The ruling TRS has fielded his widow Solipeta Sujatha as its candidate.
Modi urges people to participate in ‘festival of democracy’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged voters to cast their votes in the second phase of the Bihar Assembly election and participate in the “festival of democracy” in large numbers while adhering to social distancing norms and wearing masks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Votes will be cast for the second phase in the Bihar assembly elections today. I appeal to all voters to make this festival of democracy successful by voting in large numbers,” Mr. Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Security personnel carry Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as they leave for their election duty, on the eve of second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020.
A recap
In 2015 Assembly elections, out of these 94 seats, the Rashtriya Janata Dal had won 33, while 30 seats went to Janata Dal (United). The BJP and Congress party had registered win on 20 and seven seats respectively while, Lok Janshakti Party had won the poll in two constituencies and, one seat each had gone to Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and Independent candidates.
In 2015 both RJD and JD(U) had contested assembly poll together and had got 151 seats (RJD-80, JD-U 71) to form the government in 243 state assembly. The BJP had got 53 seats.
However, later, chief minister Nitish Kumar had parted ways from RJD to join hands again with BJP again to continue as CM of the state.
Parties locked in tough contests
In this second phase, the Rashtriya Janata Dal contesting 56 seats while, Bharatiya Janata Party on 46 and the Janata Dal (United) 43 seats in this phase. The Congress party has put up candidates in 24 constituencies while, the three Left parties on 14 seats. The NDA ally Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) will be contesting on 5 seats out of total 11 seats allotted to them.
On 28 seats RJD candidates will be locked in direct contest against BJP nominees while, on 24 seats they (RJD) will be fighting against JD(U) candidates.
The Congress party candidates will be contesting 12 seats each against JD(U) and BJP nominees. The VIP candidates, in this phase poll, are pitched against RJD candidates on all 5 seats.
Voting begins in phase 2 of Bihar polls
Polling got underway in 94 constituencies of Bihar assembly on Tuesday morning in the second phase of elections which will decide the electoral fate of RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and more than 1,450 other candidates.
The poll opened at 7 am but the time for its conclusion has been extended by one hour till 6 pm to facilitate COVID-19 patients and those with symptoms of the disease to exercise their franchise in the last hour.
Polling will, however, conclude early in naxal-hit areas.
COVID-19 guidelines
In view of the coronavirus situation, not more than 1,000 people will vote at one booth and wearing face masks has been made mandatory. Earlier the upper limit of voters at a booth was 1,600.
The Election Commission said 12.8 lakh hand sanitiser bottles (100 ml) each and 6.4 lakh bottles (500 ml each) have been provided across the state for use during the exercise, besides 1.06 lakh infrared thermometers, 25.6 lakh pair of gloves, 56 lakh masks and 12.8 lakh face shields.
Lalu’s sons in fray
Besides Tejashwi, his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav and four state ministers are also in the fray in this phase, which also features one transgender candidate, fielded by the LJP. Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha’s son Luv Sinha is also contesting the poll in this phase.
(With inputs from Agencies)
On Monday, the leaders of the National Democratic Alliance, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party addressed a series of public meetings on Monday to seek votes for their candidates in the last and third phase of elections in Bihar scheduled for November 7.
