Prominent candidates in the fray are ministers and JD(U) leaders Hari Narain Singh (Harnaut), Jitan Ram Manjhi (Makhdumpur), Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha (Jagdishpur) and BJP minister Prem Kumar (Gaya town).
Polling began this morning in 35 constituencies spread across eight districts in the fifth and penultimate phase of the assembly elections in Bihar under the shadow of a boycott call by Maoists.
Around 81.26 lakh voters will be eligible to vote in this phase of election, which will decide the fate of 490 candidates, including 44 women.
Prominent candidates in the fray are ministers and JD(U) leaders Hari Narain Singh (Harnaut), Jitan Ram Manjhi (Makhdumpur), Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha (Jagdishpur) and BJP minister Prem Kumar (Gaya town).
Chief whip in the assembly Shravan Kumar (Nalanda), party MLAs Asha Devi (Barhara), Sunil Kumar (Biharsharif), Shyam Rajak (Phulwari), Narendra Kumar Pandey (Tarari), senior BJP leaders Sayadeo Narain Arya (Rajgir), and Amrendra Pratap Singh (Ara) are also in the fray.
LJP's Dularchand Yadav from Arwal, former RJD ministers Surendra Prasad Yadav (Belaganj), Raghvendra Pratap Singh (Barhara), Suresh Paswan (Agiwan) and Rajballabh Prasad (Nawada) are also in the fray.
In 17 constituencies declared 'Maoist-hit', voting began at 7:00am and will end at 3:00pm. Polling in the remainder of constituencies will end at 5:00pm.
Director general of police Neelmani said that central para-military forces and armed police personnel were deployed at all polling stations in naxal-hit areas.
The DGP said borders with Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed.
The police would use phone line tracking and Google Earth to keep a watch on the movement of Maoists in forests and hills, Neelmani said.
Over 40,000 polling personnel would be engaged in the electoral exercise, chief electoral officer SK Rakesh said.
Polling at several booths would be webcast by BSNL.
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