Moderate voting was reported in 45 assembly constituencies in Bihar where the second phase of polling began on Sunday morning under the shadow of a poll-boycott call given by Maoists.
According to official sources, an estimated 14 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Samastipur districts till 1000 hrs. Heavily-armed Maoists, who have given a call for poll boycott, raided booth no. 166 in Runnisyedpur assembly constituency in Sitamarhi district and burnt poll material, including an Electronic Voting Machine, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar Rathi said. He denied reports about the ultras kidnapping the poll personnel. Substitute material reached the polling centre and voting began as per schedule, he said.
According to another report, voters boycotted the poll process at booth no. 20 to protest against the state's apathy towards development of their area in Sitamarhi's Bajpatti Assembly constituency. In the backdrop of the landmine blast triggered by the Maoists in Sheohar district on Friday night in which six policemen were killed, the Election Commission ordered that polling be held in Sheohar and Belsand simultaneously with three other Naxal-infested constituencies of Paroo, Minapur and Sahebganj between 0700 hrs and 1500 hrs. Most booths in these constituencies are being manned specifically by Central Para-Military Force (CPMF) personnel.
Initially, problems in EVMs were reported from a couple of booths in Alinagar, Bochaha, Rosera and Gayghat but they were promptly attended to, official sources said. State Chief Electoral Officer S K Rakesh said the EC has introduced live webcast at some booths and the entire process was being videographed. Special ramps and braille-EVMs have been arranged for the physically and visually challenged voters.
Voters complained of irregularities in voters' lists in Muzaffarpur town and held a demonstration, official sources said. A report from Muzaffarpur confirmed that the vehicle of ruling BJP nominee Veena Devi was pelted with stones at Baruari village under Gayghat Assembly constituency. However, no casualties was reported. The vehicle of state JD-U minister Dinesh Prasad Kushwaha was allegedly attacked by supporters of an independent nominee Madhvi Chan in Minapur assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur district, the sources said. While Kishwaha escaped unhurt, his bodyguard sustained injuries in the attack, they said. Raids were going on to apprehend those who were involved in the attack, the sources said.
