An estimated 35 to 40 percent voters have cast their votes so far in the first phase of election for the Bihar Assembly polls. Long queues of voters including women and youths can be seen at polling booths. 47 constituencies spread over eight districts are going to polls in this phase. These districts are Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, Madhepura and Saharsa. Over one crore seven lakh voters will decide the electoral fortune of 631 candidates including 52 women.Important candidates whose fate will be sealed in EVMs today are State Congress Chief Mehboob Ali Kaiser, and three state Ministers Vijendra Prasad Yadav,Narendra Narayan Yadav and Renu Kumari. The polling is peaceful and elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair voting.AIR Correspondent K.K.Lal reports that 41 persons have been arrested as preventive measures in Katihar. Jawans of central para-military forces have been deployed on booths for peaceful poll. The border of the state with Nepal and West Bengal has been sealed to prevent any infiltration of anti social elements. Jawans of Special Task Force are keeping air surveillance from helicopters to ensure trouble free polls.Polling will continue upto 5 p.m. However, in Simri Bakhtiarpur assembly constituency polling will close at 3 p.m due to flooding.AIR Katihar Correspondent reports that there is a heavy voter turns out in the district despite scorching heat.AIR Araria Correspondent says that there is unprecedented enthusiasm among first time voters there.