Patna, May 7 (UNI) An estimated 10.78 percent of total 98,60,397 electorate exercised their franchise amid tight security arrangements in first two hours of the polling during third phase of Lok Sabha elections on five seats in Bihar.
CEO H R Srinivas said that polling in the first two hours was higher than earlier phases of Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. It was expected that polling percentage could increase in this phase, as compared to similar phase of 2019 Lok Sabha elections but one should wait for exact assessment, he noted.
Sources of the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that maximum 11 41 percent polling was recorded in Supaul followed by 10.97 percent in Araria, 10.71 percent in Madhepura and 10.41 percent each in Jhanjharpur and Khagaria Lok Sabha seats.
No untoward incident has been reported in any part of five constituencies where polling was in progress, the sources added.
A total of 54 candidates including three women are in fray in the third phase.
The NDA and INDIA bloc candidates are in straight fight in all five constituencies.
The NDA comprises of BJP, JD(U) and LJP(Ram Vilas) while INDIA bloc has RJD, VIP and CPI(M) as its constituents in third round of polling. Congress, another constituent of INDIA bloc has not fielded its candidate in this phase of Lok Sabha elections.
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