Biennial council polls: Voter turnout up in Bihar despite pandemic

PATNA: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, large number of voters exercised their franchise in the biennial Bihar legislative council elections for eight graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies on Thursday. Elections to four teachers' constituencies saw turnout of 72.5% voters, 8.5% higher than 2014 MLC elections. In graduates' constituencies, the voter turnout was 48.5%.
In Patna’s teachers’ constituency, 55.3% polling was recorded while 44.53% voters exercised their franchise in graduates’ constituency.The polling was held from 8am to 5pm at 261 stations in Patna, Nawada and Nalanda. Maximum 85% voting was recorded in Saran’s teachers’ constituency covering five districts – Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, East Champaran and West Champaran.
As per the data provided by the chief electoral office, Bihar, 79.77% and 43.91% polling was recorded in Tirhut’s teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies, respectively, while 58.52% turnout of voters was recorded for graduates’ seat in Kosi constituency. In Darbhanga, the turnout of voters was 47.28% graduates’ constituency and 70.03% in teachers’ constituency.
Additional chief electoral officer Baijunath Kumar Singh said the polling percentage in almost all constituencies saw slight increase when compared to the previous elections. “High voter turnout amid Covid pandemic is encouraging. Safety measures were taken at all the polling booths,” he said.
Thousands of people came out of their homes to exercise their franchise in Patna. At the polling stations, masked voters stood in queue maintaining six-foot distance. Before being allowed to enter the polling stations, the voters were properly sanitised and their body temperatures checked.
In all, fate of 102 candidates – 43 for teachers’ and 59 for graduates’ constituencies – was sealed in ballot boxes. Counting of votes will take place on November 12.