Bihar Assembly Election 2020 highlights: First phase of polls passes off peacefully with 54.26% voter turnout

The first phase of polling for the Bihar assembly elections passed off peacefully on Wednesday as an estimated 54.26 per cent voters exercised their franchise, marginally lower than in 2015. However, EC secretary-general Umesh Sinha said that the "projected" voter turnout was expected to exceed the last assembly and the Lok Sabha poll figure. The polls were held in 71 constituencies spread across 16 districts amid tight security and strict Covid-19 regulations in place.

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Bihar Assembly Election: Direct contest between NDA, Mahagathbandhan

With the first phase of polling over, the contest seems to be a direct one in Bihar between NDA and Mahagathbandhan with BJP and RJD being the main contenders.

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Bihar polls: Rahul Gandhi throws 'chai, pakoda' jibes at PM Narendra Modi at rallies; raises job issue

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, throwing at him "chai and pakoda" jibes and accusing him of "not talking about" issues confronting India such as unemployment but speaking only about other countries.

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Bihar Assembly Election: 53% voters turn out to vote in first phase amid Covid-19 pandemic

Bihar recorded a peaceful polling in the first phase of elections on Wednesday with 53.54 per cent of the electorate in 71 Assembly constituencies exercising their franchise. Incidentally, this was the first-ever poll held in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic and, coincidentally, most of the constituencies that went to polls today in Bihar’s 16 districts were naxal-infested.

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BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of violating model code of conduct, shoots off complaint to EC

The BJP in Bihar on Wednesday lodged a complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the Election Commission, charging him with violating the model code of conduct by "asking for votes" in a tweet on a polling day.

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93 cases of Covid-19 violations registered in Bihar: ADG Jitendra Kumar

93 cases registered for violation of Covid-19 guidelines in the first phase of polling for Bihar assembly elections today: ADG Jitendra Kumar, Bihar

PM Narendra Modi will make Bihar 'developed' state if people vote NDA to power: CM Nitish Kumar

Bihar elections voter turnout indication that people of state want peace, development: Prasad

In the first phase of Bihar elections, 51.68% polling has been recorded till 5 pm. The total turnout is likely to be 56 to 58%. This is an indication that the people of Bihar want peace, development, and stability: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Bihar Assembly Election 2020: Can Modi’s wave still work for the BJP or will it settle as ripples?

The year was 2015. Bihar saw a record 56.8% voter turnout for the Assembly Elections. And the state was struck by the first wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Voter turnout of 51.68% recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of Bihar polls: Election Commission of India

PM Narendra Modi does not talk about unemployment in his speeches: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he talks about other countries in his speeches but not about the problems facing India such as unemployment.

Voter turnout of 46.29% recorded till 3 pm in the first phase of Bihar polls

Bihar was transformed into jungle raj by Cong and RJD 15 yrs ago: Adityanath

The land that gave the empire like Pataliputra, Vaishali, the land of Bihar, which started the golden age of India within the world, was transformed into anarchy and jungle raj by the Congress and RJD government 15 years ago: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in West Champaran, Bihar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) files complaint to Election Commission (EC) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his tweet posted today asking for votes in the first phase of Bihar Elections from voters today.

Just like you can save your self from Covid-19 with a mask, similarly with a single vote you can save Bihar from becoming 'beemar': Prime Minister Modi in Patna

With one vote, you can save Bihar from becoming "Beemar" again, PM Modi urges voters at rally

PM Modi calls Tejashwi Yadav 'Yuvaraj' of 'Jungle Raj'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on the opposition RJD in Bihar and its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, asking voters to beware of the "Yuvaraj" (crown prince) of "Jungle Raj", and alleged the party had the "copyright over kidnappings".

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"Remember the past and think if Jungle Raj Yuvaraj can take Bihar ahead on a progressive road," PM Modi attacks Tejashwi Yadav again

Only NDA can keep up to the expectations of voters, says PM Modi

Can those those people who looted Bihar understand what Bihar needs?: PM Modi at rally

Earlier one couldn't find a doctor in a Bihar hospital, today we have so many medical colleges including AIIMS plans: PM Modi

Bihar moved from 'kushashan to shushasan' under NDA: PM Modi at Patna rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Patna

Tejashwi Yadav seeks HC-monitored probe into Munger firing

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded a High Court-monitored probe into the Munger incident in which one person was killed and over two dozen others, including security personnel, were injured in firing and stone-pelting during goddess Durga idol immersion.

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What Nitish Kumar did in Bihar in 2006, Narendra Modi is doing in Punjab, Haryana and across country: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi on farm laws

Grand Alliance will be the government of every caste, every religion: Rahul Gandhi

Now he doesn't talk about employing 2 crore employment... People of Bihar know about his lies: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi

Why doesn't PM Modi speak about dying farmers? asks Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi is addressinga public rally in West Champaran, Bihar.

Forget govt jobs, even private cos will flee if those with copyright to kidnapping industry come to power: PM Modi's dig at Tejashwi Yadav

What can people expect from 'yuvraaj" (crown prince) of "jungle raj"? asks PM Narendra Modi in dig at RJD CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav

Grand Alliance has no roadmap, no experience: PM Modi

PM Modi addresses a rally in Muzaffarpur

Polling officials mark the fingers of voters with indelible ink at a polling station before they cast their votes for the first phase Bihar Assembly Elections, at Naubatpur in Patna. Credit: PTI Photo

In 31,371 polling stations in Bihar during the first phase of Assembly elections, 41,689 ballot units, 31,371 control units & 31,371 VVPATs have been deployed. As of 10 am, 0.18% ballot units, 0.26% control units, & 0.53% VVPATs have been replaced: Election Commission of India

NDA committed to development of Bihar; beware of those greedily eyeing funds meant for state's welfare: PM Narendra Modi at Bihar rally

People of Bihar have taken a resolve to again defeat those who brought 'jungle raj' in the state, those who looted Bihar. These are the people under whose government crime was rampant in the state: Prime Minister Modi in Darbhanga

Bihar people will make the 'Jungle Raj party' lose again, says PM Modi

"Remember their track record. Crime records reached such heights that people of Bihar could not live peacefully," says PM Modi.

Voter turnout of 18.48% per cent recorded till 11 am in the first phase of Bihar Polls.

Over 2.14 crore voters are today deciding the fate of 1,066 candidates contesting for 71 seats.

'Paisa hajm, pariyojyna khatm' the motto of rival parties, PM Modi attacks Grand Alliance at rally

BJP, NDA keep their promises: PM Modi

"1 lakh crore direct help provided to farmers, over 40 crore bank accounts opened for the poor, About 90 lakh women have been provided LPG connections, Rs 5 lakh free medical benefits, every poor in Bihar is availing this benefit. Every poor will be given free food. Even during Covid, we ensured no one sleeps empty stomach," he added.

Nitish is our Chief Ministerial candidate, reiterates Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Darbhanga.

CM Nitish Kumar addresses rally at Darbhanga with PM Modi.

Nitish extended his gratitude to PM Modi for establishing civil airport and AIIMs in Darbhanga.

EC asks Gaya DM to lodge FIR against BJP candidate and minister in Nitish government Prem Kumar for violation of model code of conduct. Prem had used a mask with BJP symbol.

Who is responsible for the firing & lathicharge incident in Munger? Chief Minister is now playing the role of General Dyer who ordered the Jallianwalah massacre. I am sure CM is responsible for the incident, an investigation should be done: Chirag Paswan, LJP

Voters of Balgudar village in Lakhisarai district boycott elections, booth number 115 wears a deserted look

"Villagers are not voting as they're protesting against the construction of a museum on a playground," says Booth No. 115 Presiding Officer Mohammad Ikramul Haq

BJP wants to keep 'Chirag' in their hand to light up their home & burn down Nitish Ji's house. Woh 'Chirag' ko bhi bujhana chahte hain. So BJP wants to use Chirag first, then get rid of him later: Congress' Bihar in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil on Chirag Paswan

PM Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to address election rallies in Bihar

It has been proved that Chirag Paswan is Tejashwi Yadav's B team, now do we need to say anything more? To help Tejashwi, this entire game is being played. Chirag Paswan has failed in 'Reel' life as well as in his real life: JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha on Chirag Paswan

Bihar Polls: In bid for votes, parties beat the employment drum

As campaigning for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections comes to an end, it is clearer that the BJP, as well as the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, have decided to beat the employment drum for votes.

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We condemn firing by police in Munger, in which 1 person was killed. This double-engine govt definitely had a role in it. We want to ask Dy CM Sushil Modi, who gave permission to become General Dyer? We want High Court-monitored probe: RJD leader Tejashwi

5% voter turnout recorded till 8 am in the first phase of Bihar Assembly Election 2020

As Bihar goes to polls, what is at stake for Modi?

The state is one of the country’s poorest and lags on most development indicators, but its massive population makes it politically significant. With some 104 million people -- the entire population of Egypt -- it accounts for 40 seats in the 545-member lower house of federal parliament giving it outsize national influence.

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Voting at polling booth no. 170 in Jehanabad delayed after a technical was detected in EVM.

This time for justice, employment, farmer-labour Your vote is only for the Grand Alliance. Greetings to all of you for the first phase of polling in Bihar, tweets Rahul Gandhi

Many booths in Lakhisarai's Suryagarha were malfunction due to which voting couldn't start. Similarly, voting couldn't start in Sararam's Dinara, Aurangabad and Gaya, reports News18.

I appeal to all voters to participate in this festival of democracy while taking precautions against Covid-19, tweets BJP President JP Nadda

Voting for the first phase of Bihar elections underway; visuals from polling booth number 155 and 156 in Arrah.

Nitish Kumar will ditch BJP to join RJD after poll results: Chirag Paswan

Union Minister Giriraj Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Lakhisarai.

PM Modi urges Bihar voters to take Covid-19 precautions

In Bihar, the first round of voting is being held in the assembly elections today. I urge all voters to ensure their share in this festival of democracy, taking precautions on the Covid-19. Take care of two yards, wear masks. Remember, vote first, then refreshments!

We have taken all security measures in every polling booths. Adequate security forces have been deployed. Covid-19 measures have also been taken in all the booths: Rakesh Rathi, IG Magadh.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh visited a temple in Lakhisarai.

He says," Election is the biggest festival of democracy. I appeal to everyone to exercise their right to vote."

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 pm, except in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas, so that Covid-19 patients can vote in the last hour of the day.

Of the nearly 2.15 crore electors eligible to exercise the franchise, 1.12 crore are male, 1.01 crore female and 599 are categorised as third gender, according to data provided by the Election Commission.

Two Improvised explosive devices recovered and defused by Central Reserve Police Force from Aurangabad's Dhibra area, earlier today

Polling for the first phase of Bihar electionsis underway.

Preparations are underway at a polling station in Munger as the voting for the first phase of Bihar elections willbegin shortly.

Meanwhile,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address two rallies in Valmikinagar and Kusheshwar Asthan (Darbhanga) today, whilePrime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three election rallies in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Patna.

Election FAQ: Arrangements for voters who have Covid-19

The Bihar Assembly Elections are the first major state election to occur in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in India. This makes it a unique challenge for the ECI, as it must balance the right to vote with the importance to maintain public safety.

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Confident of two-thirds majority: Tejashwi Yadav on Bihar election result

Confident of the 'Mahagathbandhan' getting two-thirds majority in the Bihar polls, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said providing jobs to unemployed youth would be top priority for him and his government will also bring a legislation in the first assembly session to nullify the "anti-farmer" laws brought by the Centre.

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In Pics | Key candidates to watch out for in Bihar Polls

Bihar Assembly election 2020: Stage set for first phase of Bihar polling on Wednesday

Bihar will have a three-phase election beginning today. The second and the third phase of voting will take place on November 3 and November 7, while counting of votes for the 243 Assembly seats will take place on November 10.

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