With over 1.52 lakh electors and 157 candidates in the fray, the ultimate phase was the biggest phase for Bihar and voters did not disappoint with a 53.55% turnout
The fate of four Union ministers along with 153 other candidates was sealed by over 53% voters, who exercised their franchise in the eight constituencies of Bihar that went to polls in the final phase of Lok Sabha election 2019 on Sunday. This is an increase of around 2% since 2014.
Brisk polling was witnessed in almost all the eight constituencies - Nalanda, Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Ara, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat, Jehanabad - since early morning as voters drawn in droves to the 15,811 polling booths set up in the state.
With over 1.52 lakh electors and 157 candidates in the fray, the ultimate phase was the biggest phase for Bihar and voters did not disappoint with a 53.55% turnout. The maximum turnout was witnessed in Sasaram constituency, where 57.74% people cast their votes, followed by Pataliputra 57.26%, Buxar 55.6%, Karakat 55%, Nalanda 54.4%, Jehanabad 54%, Arrah 52.6% and Patna Sahib 43.54%.
Chief electoral officer of Bihar H R Srinivasa said, "Except for few minor incidents, polling was peaceful in all seven phases in the state despite having much less force as compared to 2015 Assembly election." On the incident of scuffle between bodyguards of MLA Tej Pratap Yadav and a photo journalist, election officials said a report had been sought from Patna DM Kumar Ravi and appropriate action will be taken.
The final phase of poll in Bihar is a test of the BJP-led-NDA's mettle in Bihar, where it needed to defend all eight seats, including those of its Union ministers. The fiercest battle was in the two constituencies of state capital Patna - in Patna Sahib BJP-turncoat and two-term MP Shatrughan Sinha sought to retain his seat against Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while neighbouring Pataliputra constituency witnessed a ferociously fought contest between "chacha-bhatiji" - Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav and RJD MP Misa Bharti.
In Buxar, Union Minister Ashwini Choubey is pitted against RJD veteran Jagdanand Singh, while in nearby Arrah, Union Minister RK Singh seeks to hold his forte against Left candidate Raju Yadav (CPI-ML-L), who enjoys the support of the Mahagathbandhan on this seat.
Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar is locked in a direct contest with BJP MP Chhedi Paswa in Sasaram, while ex-Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, the only leader to contest on two seats in Bihar, hopes to retain Karakat constituency against JD-U's Mahabali Singh. In Jehanabad, MP Arun Kumar is fighting from a lesser known political outfit RSP, making the contest triangular with RJD's Surendra Yadav and JD-U's Chandeshwar Prasad.
Nalanda, the home constituency of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar that had not voted for the NDA in 2014, witnesses a straight contest between JD-U MP Kaushalendra Kumar and HAM-S nominee Ashok Kumar.
EVERY VOTE COUNTS
Cancer-related ailment has left octogenarian Surendra Garai debilitated but not his spirit as he arrived at a booth here to cast his vote. He is an oral cancer survivor.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Tej Pratap Yadav")
)
The final phase of poll in Bihar is a test of the BJP-led-NDA's mettle in Bihar, where it needed to defend all eight seats, including those of its Union ministers. The fiercest battle was in the two constituencies of state capital Patna - in Patna Sahib BJP-turncoat and two-term MP Shatrughan Sinha sought to retain his seat against Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while neighbouring Pataliputra constituency witnessed a ferociously fought contest between "chacha-bhatiji" - Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav and RJD MP Misa Bharti.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}