Lok Sabha Election 2019: 2% rise in voting as compared to 2014 in Bihar

Over 57.8% of the 87.66 lakh electorate exercised their suffrage in the five constituencies of Bihar, during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election on Monday. This time there has been more than two per cent rise as compared to 2014, when 55.60 per cent had voted. 

The five constituencies — Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur (SC), witnessed long queues of voters from early morning, especially as most citizens wanted to avoid the singeing sun in the afternoon hours. The evening again saw a good number of voters turn up at the 8,899 and odd polling stations set up in the five constituencies.

Maximum voting was registered at Muzaffarnagar, where 61.3% people cast their vote. It was followed by Saran, Hajipur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani at 58%, 57.7%, 56.9% and 55.5% respectively. A total of 82 candidates, including 6 women, are in the fray in the fifth phase of polls in Bihar.

While the five constituencies witness a direct contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Grand Alliance (GA), more than the Modi-factor, anti-incumbency or Lalu-magic, the caste equations are likely to play a key factor on these seats. In 2014, the BJP-led alliance had won all these five seats — Saran, Muzaffarpur and Madhubani were bagged by the BJP, while LJP won Hajipur and RLSP secured Sitamarhi. The onus thus is on NDA to retain these seats.