Three-phase election comes to a close in Bihar

Patna: Eager voters formed long queues at most polling booths defying the deadly COVID-19 pandemic as the third and the final round of polling passed off mostly peacefully in Bihar on Saturday. There were a few stray incidents of firing, scuffles and protests. The votes will be counted on November 10.

An average 54 per cent of voters cast their votes until 5pm. The first two phases had recorded 55.69 and 55.70 per cent voting, respectively. In the third round, 78 assembly seats across 15 of Bihar’s districts, majority of them with a significant Muslim population, were up for grabs.

Enthusiasm was visible since early in the morning, with many booths seeing an impressive turnout. Voters reached the polling booths by boats, cycles, bullock carts and by foot. Many said they had not even had their breakfast.

However, a near-total violation of coronavirus safety guidelines emerged as a matter of serious concern once again, with many voters being seen without face masks and ignoring social distancing norms.

A very peculiar scene was on display at a polling booth in Katihar district where a sick, old man, identified as Sukhdeo Mandal, was seen being carried on a cot by his family members holding a saline water bottle by his frail hand. “He has been bed-ridden for long but still wanted to cast his vote. We brought him to the polling station to fulfil his wish,” one of his family members told the media on Saturday.

In the same district, a middle-aged voter was seen crossing a rivulet, carrying his bicycle on his shoulder and his worn-out slippers on cycle’s carrier. “We get this opportunity only once in five years. We are voting to elect a good candidate who will care for us,” the voter said.

Muslim population

In neighbouring Kishanganj district, women poured out in large numbers at most of the polling booths to exercise their franchise. Draped in burqas and holding voter I-Cards in hands, the female voters looked eager to exercise their franchise. The Muslim population in Bihar’s Kishanganj district is 70 per cent. Many said employment, health care and migrant problems were big issues for them. “We are voting for change,” one of the voters said.

The last phase of polling was also marked by some stray incidents of violence. The first such incident was reported from Purnia district, where a young voter was shot dead by a group of criminals. Reports said the victim had gone to cast his vote at a polling booth when criminals shot him dead.

There were also some reports of clashes between the security forces and voters at some polling booths, disrupting the voting process for some time. Angry voters shouted slogans and registered their protest after one of them was assaulted by security forces for no fault, reports said. A similar incident was reported from a polling booth in Purnia district, where voters clashed with security forces after being told to maintain social distancing.

In Benipatti constituency in Madhubani district an independent candidate, Neeraj Jha, died from coronavirus on the day of voting on Saturday. He had been receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna for the past 10 days.

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