The fifth phase of polling in Bihar on Thursday saw 59.46% polling till 4 PM.
Patna: Around 55.90 percent voter turnout was recorded till 4 PM in 57 constituencies spread over nine districts in the fifth and final phase of Assembly election in Bihar, during which a polling officer died due to heart attack in Darbhanga district.
39 percent polling recorded till 1 PM for fifth phase of 2015 Bihar Assembly polls.
As per an EC bulletin, Madhubani recorded 27.49 percent of voting, Supual 35.74 percent, Araria 34.05 percent, Kisanganj 30.50 percent, Purnea 33.36 percent, Katihar 32.12 percent, Madhepura 36.73 percent, Saharsa 31.8 percent, and Darbhanga 30 percent till noon.
Bindeshwar Sah, an employee of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, suffered a heart attack when the polling was on. He died at a hospital later, District Magistrate Kumar Ravi said.
Over 31 percent turnout recorded till 12 noon in the final phase of polling in Bihar.
The polling recorded in Madhubani district saw 21.49 percent, Supaul 27.81 percent, Araria 24.17 percent, Kishanganj 25.19 percent, Purnea 24.77 percent, Katihar 24.42 percent, Madhepura 25.54 percent, and Saharsa 22.40 percent respectively till 11 am.
BJP leader Sushil Modi cautions people of Bihar to not get duped by any false propaganda and vote in large number.
बिहार के मतदाताओं के लिए आवश्यक सूचना: किसी भी प्रकार के दुष्प्रचार में न आए और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें। pic.twitter.com/SsaCrF2ht8
— Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) November 4, 2015
Also Read: BJP exudes confidence about victory in Bihar polls
Voters lined up outside a polling booth in Purnia.
Voting begins in 5th phase of #BiharPolls: Voters lined up outside a polling booth in Purnia pic.twitter.com/6k7FR94XJn
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015
Prime Minister in his tweet has appealed the voters to show up in large numbers for the fifth and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections.
"I appeal all the voters to cast their votes in large number for the fifth and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections," PM Modi tweeted.
आज बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव के पांचवें और अंतिम चरण में सभी मतदाताओं से अपील है कि भारी संख्या में मतदान करें।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 5, 2015
पांचवे चरण से पहले ही मोदी जी बिहार हार चुके है। जनादेश की दिशा साफ है । नीतिश बिहार संभाले। मोदी देश संभाले। देश को बांटे नहीं (1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 4, 2015
Also Read: Important that BJP loses in Bihar: Arvind Kejriwal
A total of 1,55,43,594 electors are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 827 candidates, including 58 women.
Prominent among those whose fate will be decided in the last phase include senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav of JD(U) (Supual), RJD Legislature party leader Siddiqui (Alinagar), Minister Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamnagar) and Lalu Prasad's 'Man Friday" Bhola Yadav (Bahadurpur).
Like in the previous four phases there is a bitter fight between the NDA and the grand secular alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress in all 57 seats in the fifth round.
This round would also be watched keenly to see if All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) of Hyderabad MP Asauddin Owaisi manages to successfully launch itself in Bihar. AIMIM has fielded six candidates in Seemanchal areas where Muslim voters are present in large number to test poll waters in Bihar.
Besides, AIMIM, impact of third front particularly Jan Adhikar Party of Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav would also be keenly watched in the Kosi belt.
The Nationalist Congress Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have also fielded candidates in many constituencies in this phase.
(With PTI inputs)