Patna, Oct 23 (PTI) Polling for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats concluded largely peacefully on Friday, recording a provisional turnout of 43.87 per cent in four graduates’ constituencies and 74.55 per cent in four teachers’ constituencies, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office said.
Among the graduates’ constituencies, Kosi recorded the highest turnout at 52.51 per cent, followed by Tirhut at 42.15 per cent, Darbhanga at 42 per cent and Patna at 36.19 per cent.
In the teachers’ constituencies, Saran registered the highest turnout at 87.16 per cent, followed by Darbhanga at 79 per cent, Tirhut at 78.10 per cent and Patna at 56.89 per cent.
Officials said the figures could change as the Election Commission compiled a consolidated turnout, including electors who had queued up at polling stations before voting closed.
A total of 150 candidates contested the elections, including 90 in the graduates’ constituencies and 60 in the teachers’ constituencies. The graduates’ constituencies had 4,92,594 electors, while the teachers’ constituencies had 40,253.
The Patna Graduates constituency witnessed a high-profile contest amid a rift within the JD(U), with its Mokama MLA Anant Singh backing Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh against his own party’s nominee, Neeraj Kumar.
Supporters of the Jan Suraaj candidate clashed with those of Neeraj Kumar in Mokama, prompting police to detain several people. Chhotu Singh, a close aide of Anant Singh, was also detained in Patna for allegedly disrupting peace and order.
“These tactics won’t work. My people have been detained at several police stations. This will only benefit us. People’s mandate is with Anuj Singh. People are the real masters and our victory is certain,” Anant Singh said.
Neeraj Kumar, a former minister and close aide of former chief minister Nitish Kumar, is seeking a fourth consecutive term from the Patna Graduates seat.
Anant Singh has backed Anuj Singh, alleging that Neeraj Kumar had worked against him during last year’s Assembly elections.
“Neeraj has always fought elections in Nitish Kumar’s name. He has got no credibility of his own. What contribution has he made to the party? The party is putting its weight behind him but was silent when he opposed me in previous elections. I am ready to face any action by the party,” Anant Singh said.
Reacting to Nitish Kumar’s meeting with Neeraj Kumar on Thursday, the Mokama MLA said the JD(U) chief “goes wherever they take him”.
Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor have claimed that Neeraj Kumar does not enjoy the support of the party chief.
Neeraj Kumar offered prayers at Baba Parshuram Temple in Barh before casting his vote, while supporters of Anant Singh burst firecrackers outside the MLA’s residence in anticipation of Anuj Singh’s victory.
Neeraj Kumar expressed confidence that he would win as an NDA candidate.
RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav accused the ruling coalition of misusing the administration to facilitate alleged “vote theft”.
“They used the government machinery to slow down voting and enable voter impersonation. Our candidates are being tormented. This is a ‘do numbari’ (dishonest) government under a ‘dus numbari’ (deeply corrupt) chief minister. Their tricks, however, will not work and we will win all eight seats,” he told reporters.
JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak, whose party is a key constituent of the ruling alliance, said polling had been smooth and claimed there was a wave of support for the NDA.
Workers of the RJD and Jan Suraaj Party created a commotion at two polling booths in Patna’s Phulwarisharif locality, alleging that voters were being forced to vote for the JD(U) candidate. They also alleged electoral malpractice and the presence of fake voter entries inside polling booths. Officials denied the allegations.
Manhandling of polling officials by supporters of political parties was also reported from some places in Muzaffarpur.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office said it received 13 complaints during polling, all of which were resolved. Final turnout figures would be released separately, it added. PTI PKD SUK SOM
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