Polls open in first phase of Bihar elections

Polling started Wednesday morning in 71 meeting constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections amid tight safety and COVID-19 pointers in place. Of the practically 2.15 crore electors eligible to train the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore feminine and 599 are categorised as third gender, in line with knowledge supplied by the Election Commission.

Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for secure conduct of the electoral train in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

These pointers embrace decreasing the utmost quantity of voters for a polling sales space from 1,600 to 1,000, staggering of polling hours and lengthening postal poll facility for these above 80.

Besides, sanitisation of digital voting machines, carrying of masks and different protecting gear by polling personnel and the provision of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, cleaning soap and water has additionally to be ensured at polling stations.

The candidates in the fray in the first phase embrace 952 males and 114 ladies.

As many as 33 of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase have been declared as delicate or hypersensitive constituencies, the ballot panel stated.

It stated 31,371 polling stations have been arrange in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines shall be used.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar instructed PTI-Bhasha that safety forces have been deployed in ample power in any respect polling stations and the buildings housing them.

The native police has additionally been used to complement the paramilitary forces wherever required, he stated, including the companies of residence guard jawans may also be taken at polling stations for works like sustaining the queue.

He stated that as a precautionary measure, all safety personnel deployed on ballot responsibility have been given a coronavirus equipment which has a face masks, gloves, a face protect and sanitisers.

He stated particular safety preparations have been made for the Naxal-affected areas. Most of the State’s Naxal-hit areas are going to polls in the first phase, he stated.

The administration will maintain an aerial vigil additionally and one helicopter shall be used for the aim, he stated.

Announcing the election schedule for the 243-member meeting on September 25, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had stated that polls will open as regular at 7 a.m. however the voting hour shall be prolonged by one hour till 6 p.m., besides in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas, in order that COVID-19 sufferers can vote in the final hour of the day.

“Bihar assembly polls will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during prevailing COVID-19 situation,” Mr. Arora had stated.