PATNA : An estimated 11 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours in 49 assembly constituencies, spread over 10 districts, amid fool proof security arrangements in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections today. Election office sources said here that about 11 per cent electorate exercised their franchise within first two hours amid tight security arrangements in Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai,Sheikhpura and Nawada districts. Long queues were seen outside the polling booths with people turning out in large number apparently to avoid the sweltering heat. However, polling was disrupted at several booths as there were reports of snag in EVMs which were being replaced by polling officers under the watchful eyes of para military forces manning the booths. EVMs were found not working properly at Booth No:-206 in Chakai assembly seat, Booth No:-234 in Nawada,Booth No:-212 in Jamalpur, Booth No:-265 and Booth No:-253 in Dhoraiya and Booth No:-27 and Booth No:-253 in Bhagalpur assembly seat.EVMs had been replaced at all these booths, said additional chief electoral officer R Lakshmanan. Voters’ slips had been provided to almost all electorate where polling was in progress while those who could not get the same,were being provided at their respective polling booths. “There is no report of any untoward incident affecting the polling process so far”, he said adding that strict instruction had been issued to deal firmly with trouble makers. A total of 49 assembly constituencies where polling is in progress are — Kalyanpur, Warisnagar, Samastipur, Ujiyarpur, Morwa, Sarairanjan, Mohiuddin Nagar, Bibhutipur, Rosera, Hasanpur, Cheriya Bariyarpur, Bachchwara, Teghra, Matihani, Sahebpur Kamal, Begusarai, Bakhri, Alauli, Khagaria, Beldaur, Parvatta, Bihpur, Gopalpur, Pirpaiti, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, Nathnagar, Amarpur, Dhoraiya, Banka, Katoriya, Belhar, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, Suryagarha, Lakshisarai, Sheikhpura, Barbigha, Rajauli, Hisua, Navada, Govindpur, Warsaliganj, Sikandara, Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai. Bihar assembly elections is to be held in five phases on October 12, 16, 28 and November 1 and 5. Result would be declared on November 8. (UNI)
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