Patna: An estimated 16.63 per cent of 76 lakh electorate exercised their votes in the first four hours of polling for first phase of Lok Sabha elections on four seats in Bihar.
According to sources of the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, the highest polling of 19.33 percent was recorded in the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, followed by 17.65 percent in Nawada. Similarly, the Aurangabad seat registered 15.04 percent, while the Gaya seat recorded 14.5 percent.
Chief Electoral Officer H R Srinivasan has appealed to voters to exercise their franchise. It was important for voters to exercise their franchise with all sincerity and zeal, he noted.
Slow polling is visible in the first four hours, particularly in Gaya, and voters are being encouraged to exercise their franchise.
In the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, very slow polling was reported at booth No. 97, where only three voters have exercised their franchise so far. The Office of the CEO has asked the district administration to look into the issue and persuade the electorate to exercise their franchise.
At a booth in the Sheikhpura assembly segment of the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, a newlywed couple reached to cast their votes, just after the marriage.
A 105-year old woman, Jalebia Devi, exercised her franchise at a booth in the Nawada Lok Sabha seat.
Voters in rural areas have not reached as large numbers as expected, and the harvesting season is being cited as the reason for the low turnout so far. After harvesting, they are expected to reach booths to cast their votes in the in the afternoon.
