Bodh Gaya (Bihar):
Thirteen of the 35 Assembly constituencies in Central Bihar went to polls in the fifth phase of the Assembly elections on Tuesday. These constituencies have a heavy Naxal presence.
Yet, the voters seemed undeterred. The total voter turnout for this phase was 50 percent.
These are some of the most backward constituencies of Bihar and the mandate seems heavily tilted in favour of development. "We are voting in the name of development," one of the voters said.
Briefing reporters, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said that except stray incidents, the polling was held peacefully. He said the percentage of polling in the fifth phase
today was higher than 41.24 per cent polled in the same areas in 2005 assembly polls and 39.43 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
While six cases of poll boycott were reported mainly on developmental work, there were some incidents of damage to EVMs and cases have been registered, he said. Four EVMs were damaged following clashes between BJP and Congress supporters in which one person was injured and an FIR has been registered in connection with the incident, he said adding a former minister and nine others were arrested.
A NCP candidate was arrested in Bojpur district for allegedly violating model code of conduct, Zutshi said adding an attempt to blast a culvert was averted in Patna district through timely detection by the police. Poll officials also seized cash in Bojpur and Pulwari from supporters of candidates, he said.
In all, 218 preventive arrests were made to ensure peaceful polling, Zutshi said. The month-long Bihar Assembly elections that will conclude on November 20.