The 3rd phase of polling in Bihar concluded peacefully on Wednesday. 52.32 % voters exercise their franchise.
The 3rd round of the 5 phase polling in Bihar’s 6 districts on 50 assembly seats concluded on Wednesday amidst tight security. The voting began at 7 am and ended at 5 pm except for 10 naxal affected constituencies where proceedings were wound up an hour in advance.
Long queues were seen outside polling booths right from the morning in tune with the enthusiasm among voters to participate in the festival of democracy. Polling was by and large peaceful even in naxal affected areas apart from stray incidents of violence and reports of malfunctioning EVMs.
In Saran, People were seen queuing up at polling booths during the early hours of the voting period to exercise their democratic right.
Polling concluded in Vaishali in a peaceful manner.People participated in large numbers and the youth were seen brimming with enthusiasm over determining the fate of candidates and their parties.
In Nalanda,polling took place amidst tight security.Women and the elderly stepped out of homes in large numbers to cast their votes.
Voters in state capital Patna also broke the urban apathy mould to exercise their democratic responsibility.
In Bhojpur district as well..the voters’ zeal was palpable..Security arrangements were tighter on some naxal affected seats but this did not deter those who wanted to exercise their franchise.
Long queues were also seen at polling booths in Buxar.There were several first time voters who broke away from the cast and creed mould to cast their ballot in the name of development.
The Election Commission had made extensive security and facilitative arrangements to ensure higher turnout than usual in the 3rd phase.5 helicopters and drones were used to ensure fool proof free and fair elections.
The 3rd phase also saw a lot of VVIPs queueing up to vote.Apart from Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Rajiv Pratap Rudy.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also cast his franchise.RJD Chief Lalu Yadav also got his finger inked along with family members,two of whom sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap were candidates in this phase.
The increasing participation of people in the dance of democracy shows how democracy has been growing in the country strength by strength.
The impact of the Election Commission’s efforts to increase voter participation through its sweep programme can also be guaged in the turnout figures.