Patna, October 23 — Voting for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats concluded peacefully on Friday, barring a few isolated incidents. By 4 pm, voter turnout stood at 43.87 per cent in the Graduates' constituencies and 74.55 per cent in the Teachers' constituencies, according to Election Commission figures. Voters who were standing in queues at polling stations at 4 pm were still allowed to cast their votes, so the final turnout figures may change slightly.
Source: The World Opinion (Election Commission figures)
Among the Graduates' seats, the Kosi constituency recorded the highest turnout at 52.51 per cent, followed by Tirhut at 42.15 per cent and Darbhanga at 42 per cent, while the Patna Graduates' seat registered the lowest at 36.19 per cent. Among the Teachers' seats, Saran led with 87.16 per cent voting, followed by Darbhanga at 79 per cent and Tirhut at 78.10 per cent; the Patna Teachers' constituency recorded 56.89 per cent.
Source: The World Opinion
A total of 150 candidates contested the four Graduates' and four Teachers' constituencies — 90 in the Graduates' seats and 60 in the Teachers' seats. Of the 5,32,847 eligible voters, 4,92,594 were registered in the Graduates' constituencies and 40,253 in the Teachers' constituencies, IANS reported. The Darbhanga Graduates' constituency had the largest field with 40 candidates, while the Patna Teachers' and Saran Teachers' constituencies had 18 candidates each.
Source: IANS via hi INDiA
The contest was primarily between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Mahagathbandhan, the Jan Suraaj Party and independent candidates. Within the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (United) contested four seats each, while Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party fielded candidates in all eight seats; the RJD, Congress and other parties also had candidates in the race. The Patna Graduates' seat drew special attention, with JD(U)'s Neeraj Kumar among those contesting it.
Source: The World Opinion
Counting of votes for all eight seats will take place on October 27. The results will show which parties and candidates have secured the support of voters in the Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies.
Source: IANS via hi INDiA