The first phase of voting began Wednesday morning across 16 districts in Bihar for the assembly elections. A total of 1066 candidates across 71 constituencies are going to polls in the first phase. A total of 33 per cent percent voter turnout was recorded till 2 pm.
The gender equation in this elections is interesting with 952 men and 114 women candidates contesting polls. While RJD has fielded 10 and LJP eight women candidates. BJP and JDU have five women candidates each and 34 women candidates are from other political parties.A majority of women candidates are fighting the polls independent – precisely a total of 44.
Gaya has the maximum number of candidates fighting elections and Katoria (Banka) has the minimum with 27 and five respectively.
The ruling party in the state, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is fighting in 35 seats while the National Democratic Alliance ally Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting in 29. Main opposition, former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is contesting elections across 42 seats and Congress is in the foray in 20 seats. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party is contesting in 41 seats.
In wake of the ongoing pandemic, the election commission of India has allowed covid 19 infected patients as well as suspected carriers of the virus to vote through postal ballot.