Bihar Assembly Election 2020 Voting LIVE Updates: Villagers in Lakhisarai's Balgudar boycott polls; 14.56% turnout till 11 am

'Keep Bihar on path of development', Amit Shah appeals to voters

Union home minister Amit Shah appealed to voters in the first phase to come out to vote in large numbers. He said, "One vote of yours will keep Bihar away from fear and corruption, and keep it on the path to progress and development."

बिहार के प्रथम चरण के सभी मतदाताओं से अपील करता हूँ कि अधिक से अधिक संख्या में मतदान करें।

आपका एक वोट बिहार को भय और भ्रष्टाचार से दूर रख विकास और प्रगति के पथ पर अग्रसर रखेगा।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 28, 2020

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Paliganj recorded 21.33 turnout till 11 am

Till 11 am, the voter turnout percentage in Masauri was 20.1 percent, 21.33 in Paliganj and 19.57 in Bikram.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Bihar will progress if NDA comes to power, says Nitish

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the state will progress if NDA comes to power again. He appealed to people in Darbhanga to vote for the NDA, as reported by News18.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

14.56% turnout till 11 am

Voting for the phase 1 of Bihar Assembly elections began at 7 am on Wednesday and the turnout has been recorded at 14.56 percent till 11 am. According to the Voter Turnout App, the highest turnout was recorded in Lakhisarai at 26.28 percent. While the lowest was recorded in Bhagalpur at 5.27 percent.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Balgudar villagers boycott polls

Voters in Lakhisarai constituency's Balgudar village did not turn up at the polling booth in protest against the construction of a museum on a playground.

Bihar: Voters of Balgudar village in Lakhisarai district boycott elections, booth number 115 wears a deserted look.

"Villagers are not voting as they're protesting against the construction of a museum on a playground," says Booth No. 115 Presiding Officer Mohammad Ikramul Haq pic.twitter.com/QpDaejRzZV

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Chirag Paswan is Tejashwi Yadav's B-team: JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha

Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Jha called Chirag Paswan "Tejashwi Yadav's B team". "To help Tejashwi, this entire game is being played. Chirag Paswan has failed in 'Reel' life as well as in his real life," he further said.

Meanwhile, Congress' Bihar in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil said, "BJP wants to keep 'Chirag' in their hand to light up their home and burn down Nitish ji's house. BJP wants to use Chirag first, then get rid of him later."

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

7.35% voter turnout till 10 am

According to the Voter Turnout App, 7.35 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 10 am in the 71 constituencies of 243-member Assembly in the phase one elections.

The highest turnout was recorded in Banka at 9.70 percent. While the lowest was recorded in Bhagalpur and Patna at 2.67 percent.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

'Double engine government' has role in Munger firing: Tejashwi Yadav

Condemning the firing by police during a Durga Puja procession in Munger on Monday in which one person was killed, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "Bihar's deputy CM had appealed to criminals to keep low for now, and continue with their activities later. This speaks volumes about the law and order situation in state."

He further added, "We condemn firing by police in Munger. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Deputy CM Sushil Modi who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe."

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

33 of 71 constituencies 'sensitive or hypersensitive'

As many as 33 of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase have been declared as “sensitive or hypersensitive” constituencies. Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told PTI-Bhasha that paramilitary forces have been deployed in adequate strength at all polling stations and the buildings housing them.

The local police has also been used to supplement the paramilitary forces wherever required, he said, adding the services of home guard jawans will also be taken at polling stations for works like maintaining the queue.

Bihar Phase 1 election polling latest updates

Bihar minister cycles to Gaya polling booth

Bihar minister Prem Singh rode a bicycle to reach a polling booth in Gaya to cast his vote. Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Jamui Shreyasi Singh cast her vote at a polling booth in Naya Gaon.

#WATCH: Bihar Minister Prem Kumar rides a cycle on his way to the polling booth to cast his vote, in Gaya. #BiharAssemblyElection2020 pic.twitter.com/9tR2AiZZz4

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2020