Bihar Assembly Election Polling: After the blast in Delhi, high alert has been issued in Bihar. Voting will be held in 122 assembly constituencies on Tuesday, November 11 for the second and final phase of Bihar assembly elections. After a record turnout of over 65% in the first phase, tight and unprecedented security arrangements have been made across the state for the second phase. More than 4 lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful and fair voting.
impenetrable circle of security
According to state police officials, elaborate security arrangements have been made for the second phase of voting:
More than 4 lakh personnel have been deployed for election duty, including about 1000 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) (about 1 lakh personnel). Apart from over 60,000 Bihar Police personnel, 30,000 Bihar Special Armed Police personnel, 20,000 home guards, 19,000 new recruits and around 1.5 lakh chowkidars have also been involved in the duty in both the phases. Voting will be held at a total of 45,399 polling stations, of which 40,073 are located in rural areas. Security agencies have identified around 8,491 Critical Polling Station Locations (PSLs) where security personnel will maintain extra vigil.
Critical and vulnerable areas
All booths have been considered equally important from a security perspective, although special precautions are being taken in some areas: Gayaji has the highest number of critical PSLs (1,084), followed by Aurangabad (942), Rohtas (827), and Nawada (690). There are also a large number of critical booths in districts like Banka (613), Bhagalpur (574), Bettiah (526), Araria (518).
13,651 settlements in 122 assembly seats have been marked as ‘vulnerable’, where special arrangements have been made to ensure smooth voting.
More than 65 percent voting was recorded on 121 seats in the first phase, which is the highest ever voting percentage in the history of the state. The Election Commission hopes that voters will exercise their franchise in large numbers in the second phase also.
Voting today on 122 seats of these major districts
In the second and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections, voting is being held today (November 11) on a total of 122 assembly seats in 20 districts. This phase covers important areas of Magadh, Tirhut and Seemanchal, where the political future of many veteran candidates is at stake.
The major districts where voting will take place in the second phase and the number of seats included in them are as follows:
Name of District Number of Seats Major Constituencies (in brief)
Gayaji 10 Gaya Town, Bodh Gaya, Tikari, Sherghati, Guruva
Aurangabad 6 Goh, Obra, Aurangabad, Rafiganj
Rohtas 7 Nokha, Dehri, Sasaram, Chenari, Dinara
Nawada 5 Hisua, Nawada, Govindpur
Bhagalpur 7 Bihpur, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj
Banka 5 Banka, Amarpur, Belhar
Jamui 4 Sikandra (SC), Jamui, Jhajha, Chakai
West Champaran (Bettiah) 9 Valmikinagar, Bagaha, Lauria, Bettiah
East Champaran (Motihari) 12 Raxaul, Motihari, Chiraiya, Dhaka
Sitamarhi 8 Belsand, Parihar, Sursand, Sitamarhi
Madhubani 10 Harlakhi, Benipatti, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur
Supaul 5 Chhatapur, Nirmali, Supaul, Pipra
Araria 6 Narpatganj, Forbesganj, Araria
Purnia 7 Amour, Kasba, Banmankhi, Purnia
Katihar 7 Barari, Kodha, Katihar, Balrampur
Kishanganj 4 Thakurganj, Kishanganj, Bahadurganj
Arwal 2 Arwal, Kurtha
Jehanabad 3 Jehanabad, Ghosi
Kaimur (Bhabhua) 4 Chainpur, Mohania, Bhabhua
Shivhar 1 Shivhar
important point
Total voters: Around 3 crore 70 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in this phase. After both phases of voting, counting of votes will take place on November 14.
This phase is being considered decisive for both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance to reach power.