54 percent turnout in Bihar first phase: EC

NEW DELHI - Fifty-four percent polling was recorded in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections that was held peacefully Thursday, the Election Commission of India said here.

In the first phase, 47 of the total 243 assembly constituencies went to vote.

The Election Commission said the total percentage may increase. By and large the elections were held peacefully. It was an incident-free elections, Vinod Zutshi, deputy election commissioner told reporters here.

At least 136 people were taken into preventive custody. Ten incidents of poll boycott were reported from several booths in Madhubani, Madhepura, Saharsa, Kishanganj and Purnia, said Zutshi. The reason for poll boycott in these constituencies was lack of development.

No incident of booth capturing was reported from any of the constituencies. There is no case of re-poll. Regarding re-poll, a final scrutiny will be done by the EC at 11 a.m. Friday. If it is found that any violation of the guidelines has taken place, based on that report a decision will be taken on a re-poll,’ said Zutshi.

Two cases were registered against a Janata Dal-United candidate and a Socialist Janta Dal candidate for violating the election norms. A case was registered against JD-U’s Neeraj Kumar Babli for misbehaving with a poll official and another separate case was registered against Alimuddin Ansari from Socialist Janta Dal for entering the poll booth premises where candidates are not allowed.