Notification
for third phase of Bihar polls
by Ajay Kumar
Patna:
Bihar Governor Buta Singh on Wednesday issued the notification
for the third phase of polling of the Assembly elections in
the state scheduled to be held on November 13 in 72 constituencies.
Eleven districts, including, West Champaran, East Champaran,
Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Saharsa,
Madhepura, Araria and Kishanganj will vote in the third phase.
With the notification being issued, the process for the filing
of nominations begins and will continue till October 26. The
scrutiny of papers will be done on October 27 and the last
date for the withdrawal of nominations will be October 29.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was announced that the second phase
of polling covering 69 assemblies in the districts of Bhagalpur,
Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar,
Purnea, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur and Samastipur would be held
on October 26.
Voting
for the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls in 57 assembly
constituencies coming under twelve districts was completed
on Tuesday. Only two incidents of violence were reported and
an estimated 46 percent of the electorate exercised its franchise
under stringent security. Over 12 million voters were eligible
to vote. Voting in four booths in Imamganj Assembly constituency
in Gaya district, which was postponed due to absence of security
on Tuesday, would now take on October 21 along with Gaya (town),
Gaya (mufassil), Bodh Gaya and Belaganj seats, after deployment
of adequate security personnel. Elections are being held for
the second time in the state, as none of the parties in the
fray could register a majority vote to stake a claim to form
a government in February. This necessitated the imposition
of President's rule in Bihar on May 23 on the recommendation
of Governor Buta Singh, who claimed then that political parties
were engaging in horse trading. The last phase of polling,
covering 41 seats, will be held on November 19. Counting of
votes would be taken up on November 22.