31% polling recorded in Bihar till noon

Voters today braved the scorching sun to cast their votes in six Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar which witnessed a voter turnout of about 31% till noon.

While 30% voting was recorded in Valmikinagar, it was 31% in West Champaran, 28% in East Champaran, 35.1% in Vaishali, 31.2% in Gopalganj (SC) and 30.2% in Siwan till noon, an Election Commission statement said. Despite the soaring temperature, enthusiasm for voting was visible particularly among women and first time voters.

In Meenapur block of Vaishali, an elderly woman was seen coming to booth number 132 on a "thela" (wooden cart) to cast her vote. A large number of burqa clad women were seen standing in queque outsides booths in Siwan Parliamentary constituency. RJD candidate from Siwan Heena Sahbab stood with women in line to exercise her franchise. Complaints of problems in EVMs were reported from some booths in Gopalganj, East Champaran and elsewhere, the statement said.

Film-maker Prakash Jha and former Union minister Raghubansh Prasad Singh are among the 90 candidates in the fray from the six seats of Bihar witnessing voting today. Elaborate security arrangement was in place with 58,000 security personnel on duty. The Election Commission reduced the duration of polling by two hours in five assembly segments in view of perceived Maoist threat.