Tight security arrangements have been made for the second phase of Assembly elections in Bihar tomorrow. 45 constituencies spread over six districts of Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar Darbhanga and Samastipur will go to polls in this phase.Most of the constituencies are naxal infested. Polling will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. But Polling time will be up to 3 P. M. in five assembly constituencies of Minapur, Paroo,Sahebganj, Sheohar and Belsand constituencies because the area is naxal infested.Out of over ten thousand polling stations three thousand seven hundred are supersensitive. Director General of police Neelmani told AIR that Jawans of central para-military forces are being deployed on all booths to ensure free and fair polls. State's border with Nepal has already been sealed to prevent any infiltration of anti social elements. He said Jawans of Special task Force would also keep air surveillance from two helicopters to ensure trouble free polls.Chief Electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh has appealed people of the state not to be scared and come in large numbers tomorrow to excercise their right of franchise. Over 98 lakhs electorates will decide the electoral fortune of 623 candidates including 46 women.Political bigwigs whose fate will be decided include State RJD Chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui and his Jantal Dal (United) counterpart Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. Congress legislature Party leader Ashok Kumar is facing challenge from LJP candidate Ramchandra Paswan in KUSWESHWARSTHAN constituency.Three ministers Sahid Ali Khan, Dinesh Prasad and Ramnath Thakur are also in the contest. The Congress and the BSP are contesting all seats. The rulling JD (U) is contesting 28 seats and its ally BJP 17. The RJD is in the fray in 34 assembly constituencies and its ally LJP in 11.The CPI and CPM have put upeight candidates each while CPI (ML) is contesting in 11 seats.
News On AIR | October 23, 2010 9:10 PM
Bihar: Tight security for the second phase of assembly polls