Nearly 33 per cent of the total 2.85 crore electors exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Tuesday in 94 constutiencies of Bihar during the second phase of assembly elections.

IMAGE: A woman shows an ID and her finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Patna . Photograph: PTI Photo

The highest poll percentage of 41.25 has been recorded in Muzaffarpur among the 17 districts, where the 94 seats are located, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout App, updated till 1 pm.

The lowest turnout so far has been reported from Darbhanga at 26.73 per cent, followed by Patna at 28 per cent.

Polling began at 7 am on 94 assembly seats across 17 districts in the second phase of Bihar polls on Tuesday with precautionary measures against COVID-19 in place.

Voters were also provided certificates by officials at the polling booth for participating in the democratic exercise."Voters participating in voting were honoured by giving certificates -- District Patna," Chief Electoral Office Bihar tweeted.

IMAGE: Voters undergo thermal screening at a polling station before casting his vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly elections, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

Bihar saw a final voter turnout of 55.69 per cent in the first phase of assembly polls with the poll percentage better compared to that in 2015.

Over 2.86 crore voters are eligible to cast their vote in the second phase which is also the largest of three phases of assembly poll in the state.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

There are 1,464 candidates in the fray including 46 from Bharatiya Janata Party, 43 from Janata Dal-United, 56 from Rashtriya Janata Dal, and 24 from Congress.

Five candidates from the Vikasheel Insaan Party, which is part of the NDA, are also in the fray.

From Mahagathbandhan, three Left parties are contesting on 14 seats (CPI-ML six, CPI and CPM on four each).

IMAGE: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

The key candidates include former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad's sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap. Tejashwi, the chief ministerial candidate of Mahagathbandhan is contesting from Raghopur, while Tej
Pratap, who is sitting MLA from Mahua, is contesting from Hasanpur.

IMAGE: Lok Janshakti Party party leader Chirag Paswan shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Khagaria district. Photograph: PTI Photo

Road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav is seeking re-election from Patna Sahib.

IMAGE: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and his wife Maya Shankar show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting votes during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

Polling was held for 71 constituencies in the first phase on October 28 with precautionary measures in place against the novel coronavirus.

IMAGE: Bihar Governor Fagu Chauhan shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the second phase of Bihar assembly polls, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

Voting in the third phase will take place on November 7 and the results will be declared on November 10.

Bihar records nearly 33% polling till 1 pm