50 per cent turnout in phase V Bihar polls

PTI

New Delhi, 10 November 2010: The penultimate phase of Assembly polls in Bihar on Tuesday recorded a 50 per cent voter turnout —the lowest in the elections so far — amidst stray incidents of violence. Briefing reporters, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said that except stray incidents, the polling was held peacefully.

 

He said the percentage of polling in the fifth phase on Tuesday was higher than 41.24 per cent polled in the same areas in the 2005 Assembly polls and 39.43 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

 

While six cases of poll boycott were reported mainly on lack of developmental work, there were some incidents of damage to EVMs and cases have been registered, he said.

 

Four EVMs were damaged following clashes between BJP and Congress supporters in which one person was injured and an FIR has been registered in connection with the incident, he said adding a former minister and nine others were arrested.

 

An NCP candidate was arrested in Bojpur district for allegedly violating model code of conduct, Mr. Zutshi said adding an attempt to blast a culvert was averted in Patna district through timely detection by the police.

 

Poll officials also seized cash in Bojpur and Pulwari from supporters of candidates, he said. In all, 218 preventive arrests have been made to ensure peaceful polling, Mr. Zutshi said.