INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Patna: Polling began Wednesday morning in 71 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the first phase of three-phase elections amid tight
security and COVID-19 guidelines in place.Of the total 2,14,84,787 electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1,12,76,396 are male voters,
78,691 service electors.A total of 1,066 candidates -- 952 men and 114 women -- are in the fray in the first phase of elections being held
in constituencies spread across 16 districts.Guidelines have been issued by the Commission for safe conduct of the electoral exercise in the
midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.These guidelines include lowering the maximum number of voters for a polling booth from 1,600 to
1,000, staggering the polling hours and extending postal ballot facility to those above 80.Besides, sanitisation of electronic voting
machines, wearing of masks and other protective gear by polling personnel and the availability of thermal scanner, hand sanitiser, soap and
to cast their votes."I urge all voters to ensure their participation in this festival of democracy taking all COVID-19 related precautions
Keep ?do gaj ki doori' (maintain a distance of two yards,) and wear mask mandatorily
Voting first, breakfast later," he tweeted.As the polling began, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to cast their votes in favour of
only for 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance)," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi."Good wishes to all of you on the first phase of Bihar
elections," he tweeted with the hashtag in Hindi 'Aaj Badlega Bihar'.RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi
Yadav urged people to vote for a better future, education, health, jobs and development for Bihar.As many as 33 of the constituencies going
stations have been set up in this phase and as many Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will
be used.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
kit which has a face mask, gloves, a face shield and sanitisers.He said special security arrangements have been made for the Naxal-affected
Most of the state's Naxal-hit areas are going to polls in the first phase, he said.The administration will keep an aerial vigil also and
one helicopter will be used for the purpose, he said.Announcing the election schedule for the 243-member assembly on September 25, Chief
Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had said that polls will open as usual at 7 am but the voting hour will be extended by one hour until 6
will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during prevailing COVID-19 situation," Arora had said.The second and the third
phase of polls are scheduled for November 3 and November 7
The results will be announced on November 10.
