Phase IV: Begusarai records maximum turnout

BEGUSARAI/DARBHANGA/PATNA: The fourth phase election in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar passed off peacefully on Monday barring a few incidents of sporadic incidents of clashes and police action.
Begusarai had the maximum turnout of 61.27%, followed by 60.80% in Samastipur, 60.56% in Ujiarpur, 56.68% in Darbhanga and 55.38% in Munger. However, the polling percentage in the five constituencies this year is 2.74% more than in the 2014 general election.
There were EVM glitches at several booths early morning in Begusarai where BHP firebrand leader Giriraj Singh is locked in a triangular contest with Kanhaiya Kumar of CPI and Tanweer Hasan of RJD.Polling was disrupted for about 40 minutes at St Pauls School booth in Begusarai town due to EVM glitch. Similar problem occurred for a while at Binod Bhavan in Garhara.
An octogenarian couple reached the Omar Girls’ middle school at Bishnupur in a battery-operated rickshaw to cast vote. There was heavy turnout at MRJD College model booth and JK School polling station in the morning. Ayurvedic College in Lohiya Nagar was also made a model polling booth.
However, most of the booths in the town wore a deserted look in the afternoon because of scorching heat. Women outnumbered males in Darbhanga. DM-cum-returning officer Thiyagarajan SM claimed that the women turnout was 58.8%, as compared to 54.6% male voters.
Malfunctioning of EVMs was reported at some booths in the morning hours in Darbhanga, but either the EVMs were repaired or replaced within an hour. People at booth number 119 of Darbhanga town were delighted over getting receipt through VVPAT machine attached to the EVM. Manish Prasad, a first-time voter, said unnecessary hue and cry should not be raised over the EVMs.
The district administration had made special arrangements for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Wheelchairs were kept ready at 72 booths. Cadets of Bihar Scouts and Guides were deputed at these booths for helping voters on wheelchairs. Mohini Devi (80) from Bhatiarisarai mohalla, who had come to vote on the model booth at Holy Cross school was first to avail the wheelchair facility.
At the eco-friendly booth number 84 at government polytechnic college in Kaidrabad, five first-time voters were given a pot containing plant saplings.
Interestingly delegates from Russia, Vietnam and Iran had also come to oversee the polling process in coordination with India Foundation. They visited some polling booths under the Indian Election Study Programme. They also interacted with some candidates in the fray.
The voters were enthusiastic in Samastipur and Ujiarpur constituencies.
Polling was also held in Barh and Mokama assembly segments of Patna district falling under Munger parliamentary constituency. According to Patna district administration, an estimated 79.64% voters exercised their franchise in Barh and Mokama.
Patna DM Kumar Ravi inspected several booths in the two assembly segments. The DM said Barh recorded 53.21% and Mokama 53.04% turnout. “The polling was held peacefully,” Ravi said.
The security personnel and police team jointly detained one SUV belonging to Mokama MLA Anant Singh, whose wife Neelam Devi is the Congress candidate from Munger seat.
Barh SHO Sanjeet Singh said the car was seized near a polling booth at Ladma village as it was making several rounds near the polling station to influence the voters. The police detained 44 cars and 55 persons in Barh and Mokama.