Patna, Nov 07 (UNI) An estimated 7.69 per cent of 2,35,54,071 electorate exercised their franchise in first two hours during third and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections in 78 constituencies where polling began at 7 AM amid tight security arrangements.

Sources at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said here that an estimated 7.69 per cent of the total voters exercised their franchise in first two hours of the polling in 78 constituencies where polling was in progress for third and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

Maximum polling of 15.25 per cent was recorded in Forbesganj constituency while minimum polling of 4 per cent was recorded in Benipatti and Madhepura constituencies, sources added.

Polling is expected to pick up with progress of the day. Highest polling was recorded in Araria district where 10.67 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise followed by 10.28 per cent in Vaishali district.

Minimum polling was recorded in Katihar district where 5.36 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise while in Madhepura and Madhubani, 5.65 per cent and 6.31 per cent electorate exercised their franchise respectively in first two hours of the polling.

A total of 2, 35, 5 4, 071 electorate are expected to exercise their franchise in 78 constituencies spanning 15 districts to decide the fate of 1204 candidates, including 12 ministers of Nitish Kumar cabinet.

Polling in 4 constituencies Valmiki Nagar, Ramnagar, Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Mahisi would come to an end at 4 PM due to security reasons while in other constituencies polling would continue till 6 PM.

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