Massive voter turnout in phase one of the Bihar polls. 57% voter turnout up 6% from the 2010 Assembly elections recorded. Women take the lead in voting.PM lauds Election Commission’s efforts.
First phase of polling was held today in Bihar.Massive 57% voting was recorded in the first phase of polls spreading across 49 assembly seats in 10 districts of the state.Women turned out in larger numbers to vote than men – 59.5 per cent of the women voted as against 54.5 per cent of the men.
Voting booths saw long queues from the morning itself. Several of the seats that went to polls are naxal affected, but that didn’t deter voters from coming out in large numbers. The poll was bay and large peaceful with some minor incidents and a few cases of malfunctioning EVMs reported.
The overall turnout in the state was 57% up 6.15% from the last Assembly polls 2010. Women voters pipped men to the polling booth recording a 59% turnout over a 54.5% male turnout. Talking of the district wise break-up, SAMASTIPUR saw a 60% turnout, BEGUSARAI: 59%, KHAGARIYA: 61%, BHAGALPUR: 56%, BANKA: 58%, MUNGER: 55%, LAKHISARAI: 54% SHEIKHPURA: 55%, NAWADA: 53% and JAMUI: 57%
Talking of Samastipur, the voting picked up through the day with the final count of 60% leaving the district at number two in terms of voter turnout.
Enthusiastic women and the elderly queued up in Begusarai to exercise their franchise.
One-fifth of Bihar went to the polls on Monday….Naxal-infested Lakhisarai saw the youth voter turnout in large numbers amidst tight security arrangements…several of whom were first time voters. More than 17 per cent of the young electorate cast their votes in the first phase of polls. Most of the constituencies that voted in this opening round are JD(U) strongholds – it won 29 seats here in alliance with the BJP in 2010…
Bihar once known as a state of reluctant voters has consistently seen an increase in voter turnout since the Election comission launced its SVEEP plan for voter education in 2009.
Since then Bihar has seen Assembly polls in 2010 and now in 2015 recording a 6.15% increase in voter turnout, Lok Sabha polls in 2014 also saw an increase of 11.82% as compared to the 2009 polls. This flagship programme run by the Election Commission aims to not only achieve 100% voter registration, but also to push up voter participation particularly amongst women, youth and urban voters who lag behind. The programme includes information, motivation and facilitation measures like setting up model poll booths and increasing facilities for voters at all booths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the Election Commission for its efforts.
With four phases remaining in the Bihar polls, the hope is that this voter enthusiasm will continue till the very end.