Voters turn out in large numbers in first phase of Bihar assembly polls

Election Commission has put in place elaborate mechanism, including keeping sanitiser and gloves handy for voters and polling staff at booths.

Voters at Maharajpur village during the first phase of Bihar assembly elections last month | Praveen Jain | ThePrint File photo

Patna (Paliganj/Masaurhi): People queued up in large numbers at polling booths as the first phase of Bihar assembly polls began Wednesday amid Covid-19 guidelines. This is the first major election following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic and the Election Commission has put in place elaborate mechanism, including keeping sanitiser and gloves for voters and polling staff at booths.

A total of 71 assembly segments of Bihar’s 243 constituencies are voting in the first phase.

The RJD is contesting on 42 seats, while its ally Congress has fielded its candidate in 20 constituencies. . In the ruling NDA alliance, the JD(U) and the BJP have put up their candidates on 35 and 29 seats respectively, while their smaller allies — HAM(S) and VIP — are contesting on six seats and one seat respectively.

ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain brings you snapshots from the polling booths.

People show their voter ID cards in Rihhada village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Women voters stand in queue to cast their votes in Belhori village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A security personnel stands guard at a polling booth in Belhori village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Villagers of Maharajpur village on their way to cast their votes | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

People stand in queue with their voter slip in Sundarpur village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Not all voters in Rihhada village of Paliganj were seen wearing masks | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

 

Women cook meals for polling officers in Rihhada village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

An elderly woman shows her voter ID and voter slip in Belhori village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A police personnel at a polling booth in Maharajpur village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A woman sits at a polling centre in Rihhada village of Paliganj | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Women voters waiting to cast their votes in the first phase of Bihar elections in Sundarpur village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint |

A queue of voters in Sundarpur village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Women voters have come to cast their votes in Maharajpur village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint