First phase of ULB polls peaceful in Bihar, over 59% exercise franchise

PATNA: The first phase of urban local body (ULB) elections passed off peacefully in the state with 59.62% voters exercising their franchise on Sunday. The elections passed off peacefully in 68 nagar parishads (municipal councils) and 88 nagar panchayats amid tight security arrangements at all the polling booths.
The voters have sealed the fate of over 21,287 candidates, including 11,582 women, across 38 districts in the state. The maximum voter turnout was recorded in Arwal at 67.71%. The turnout was 67.07% in Gaya, 66.83% in Motihari, 66.44% in Kaimur and 65.45% in Purnia. The lowest turnout was recorded in Banka at 45.78%.

The figure was 61.46% in Patna, where voting was held for 10 municipal councils – Sampatchak, Masaurhi, Barh, Khagaul, Danapur, Mokama, Fatuha, Bihta, Phulwarisharif and Bakhtiyyarpur – and two nagar panchayats, Paliganj and Punpun. The voting percentage of men was slightly higher by 4.22% than women in the district.
According to Patna district electoral office, the voter turnout in Sampatchak was 67.25%, Masaurhi (58.91%), Barh (58.36%), Khagaul (40.39%), Danapur (65%), Mokama (60.47), Phulwarisharif (50.55%), Fatuha (65.90%), Bakhtiyarpur (63.68%), Bihta (65.50%), Paliganj (71%) and Punpun (70.53%).
A State Election Commission (SEC) official said barring a few incidents of bogus voting and impersonation, polling was largely peaceful in the state. “The polling was peaceful in the entire state and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. In some places, the EVMs were found to be defunct. Five incidents of bogus voting and three incidents of attempt to capture booths were recorded. Altogether 15 complaints were received at the control room from polling centres,” the official added.
To prevent bogus voting, voter verification was done at every polling station through digital photography surveillance. Live webcast was arranged at 377 highly sensitive polling stations. Webcast was continuously monitored by the MIS team in the control room set up at block, district and commission level.
“Necessary action was taken in eight cases of misuse of vehicles, five cases of illegal gathering/speech under Loudspeaker Act and two cases of giving cash to voters. As per reports received till 3pm on Sunday, 128 persons were arrested and 13 vehicles seized,” read a press statement issued by the SEC.
The polling took place for 3,658 posts in the ULBs, including for mayors (156), deputy mayors (156) and councillors (3,346). The polling booths were manned by 41,790 personnel.
To maintain law and order, 11,433 police officers and 42,085 police personnel were deputed. The counting of the first phase will take place on December 20.