The second phase of polling on 94 seats in the Bihar assembly elections passed off peacefully Tuesday with a voter turnout of over 54.64 per cent, marginally lower than the 2015 figure, as Covid-19 failed to dampen the democratic spirit of citizens.
The ruling JD(U) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission demanding registration of an FIR and cancellation of nominations of Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav for allegedly concealing information about some properties in their election affidavits.
As BJP grew in strength in Rajya Sabha, shoring its number to 92 as against 38 of Congress after the November 2 elections for the Upper House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a swipe at the main Opposition party saying public anger has reduced the party to such a sorry state that it has been left with less than 100 MPs in both Houses of Parliament together.
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission over a speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Bihar assembly polls campaigning, alleging that the PM was trying to polarise the elections on communal lines.
The crucial second phase of polling in 94 constituencies in Bihar was over on Tuesday with around 54 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise. Today’s poll was significant in the sense that the alliance, which could muster support in the first two phases, could scrape through in the fiercely-fought three-phase election.
The 94 assembly constituencies that went to poll in the phase two of Bihar elections on Tuesday recorded 53.51 per cent turnout and the figure was likely to go up as voting continued beyond schedule in several places, the Election Commission said.
Critics of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will be "khamoshed" (silenced) when results for Bihar assembly polls are declared on November 10 as the 'Mahagathbandhan' is headed for a "landslide" win, senior Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha said on Tuesday.
As political parties fight tooth and nail for the Bihar Chief Minister’s post, 31-year-old Tejashwi Yadav seems unfazed saying that this election “will surprise everyone”.
"In Bihar, rangbaazi (rowdyism) and rangdaari (extortion) are losing and vikas (development) and kanoon kaa raaj (rule of law) is winning, parivarvaad (dynasty rule) is being defeated by janatantra (democracy)," he asserted.
Addressing a poll rally here, the former Congress president criticised the NDA government over demonetisation, the migrant crisis, GST, handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the three new farm laws.
“Aur phenko. Jitna mann ho, utna phenko. (Throw more stones....as much as you like),” Nitish told the angry youths, and at the same time asked his security men, who, by then, had encircled him as security cover, to move aside and let him have direct contact with the unruly mob.
Villagers participate in a protest 'Road Nahi Vote Nahi' as they refuse to vote during the second phase ofBiharAssembly polls, at Baruraj in Muzaffarpur district, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Credit: PTI Photo
A woman with her newborn baby arrives to cast her vote for the second phase ofBiharAssembly Elections, at Meenapur in Muzaffarpur district, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Credit: PTI Photo
PM Narendra Modi is addressing his second rally for the day in Bihar'sSaharsa.
Bihar has left behind the darkness of insecurity and anarchy in the last 15 years under Nitish Kumar, says the PM.
A security person keeps vigil as voters stand in a queue during the second phase ofBiharassembly polls, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Muzaffarpur district, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Credit: PTI Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dismissed suggestions of anti-incumbency against the Nitish Kumar government inBihar, asserting that the NDA had spent the last decade meeting the people's "needs" and was now focused on taking care of their "aspirations.
Addressing a rally in this northBihartown of Araria district, Modi also asserted that trends of the first phase of assembly elections, and the second that was underway, suggested that voters of the state had rejected "double yuvraaj", an expression he has coined for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav.
"InBihar, rangbaazi (rowdyism) and rangdaari (extortion) are losing and vikas (development) and kanoon kaa raaj (rule of law) is winning, parivarvaad (dynasty rule) is being defeated by janatantra (democracy)," he asserted.
Recalling the state's notoriety for booth capturing in the 1990s, the prime minister said "They (NDA's predecessors in government) had deprived the poor of even their right to vote. It is the NDA which empowered the downtrodden in the state again."
PTI
Proponents of "jungle raj" snatched from poor right to vote with culture of booth capturing, NDA restored it, saidPM Modi.
Lawlessness, extortion losing while development and rule of law winning in Bihar, says the PM.
"Votes will be cast for the second phase in the Bihar assembly elections today. I appeal to all voters to make this festival of democracy successful by voting in large numbers," Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.
With the Bihar Assembly Elections nearly here, many thousands of first-time voters will take their first steps into the democratic system of India, cast their franchise and play their part in putting the next government in the state. As many political parties court them for their votes, this guide is to help understand how to vote at the polling booth.
Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal after casting his vote in Bihar's Bettiah district on Tuesday. Credit: Special Arrangement
As polling began for the second phase of Bihar assembly elections and bypolls in 10 states, BJP President JP Nadda on Tuesday appealed to people to come out in large numbers and ensure their participation in the grand festival of democracy while adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. Besides Bihar assembly polls, voting is underway for by-elections to 54 assembly constituencies in 10 states including 28 seats in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP is locked in a keenly-fought contest with the Congress to save its government. (PTI)
As polling began for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly election, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged people to vote so that a new government of their choice can be formed. Taking to Twitter, the former Congress chief said he will be in Bihar's Korha and Kishanganj on Tuesday and will talk about issues such as "growing unemployment", problems faced by farmers and a "weak economy".
The polling percentage stood at 8.05% in the second phase of Bihar elections 2020 till 9 am, according to Chief Electoral Officer(CEO).
A local at the polling booth says, "We've been waiting for our turn to cast our vote, but Sushil ji just came, cast his vote andleft. He's a VVIP.”
RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav who is contesting from the Hasanpur seat in the Bihar assembly elections, says, "The public wants a change in Bihar. I appeal to people to cast their vote."
Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan after casting his vote in Patna on Tuesday. Credit: Special Arrangement
A girl arrived at a polling booth in Patna with her grandmother on cycle to cast vote in the second phase of Bihar elections.
I appeal to the people to step out of their homes, cast their vote, maintain social distancing and keep wearing mask, saysDeputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi after casting his vote.
All eyes will be on the second phase of polling on November 3 when voting in 94 Assembly constituencies in Bihar will begin on Tuesday morning. With ground reports suggesting that the Mahagathbandhan had a slight edge during the first phase of poll in which voting took place in 71 constituencies in Magadh and Shahabad region on October 28, the NDA will have to perform better than expected for the Tuesday poll if it wants to remain in the race.
She is already taking an active part in the campaign for her father Chandrika Roy in Parsa, which he has represented a number of times and is seeking to retain on a JD(U) ticket this time.
There were said to be fears in the RJD camp that Tej Pratap’s bid to retain Mahua could be challenged by the NDA through his estranged wife Aishwarya as its trump card.
Tejashwi’s elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav is trying his luck from Hasanpur in Samastipur district, shifting his base from Mahua in Vaishali.
The BJP has retained its trust in Satish Kumar, hoping that the giant killer will be able to do a repeat of 2010 when, like this time, JD(U) president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was with the NDA.
The 31-year-old is seeking re-election from Raghopur in Vaishali district which he had wrested back for his party from the BJP’s Satish Kumar in 2015. The BJP leader had defeated Yadav’s mother Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, in 2010.
Notable among the candidates is the RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition Grand Alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate, who has been aggressively trying to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor against the Nitish Kumar government.