Bihar Assembly Elections phase II: As it happened

Women voters outnumbered men voters by 5%; polling% of women voters- 57.5%, polling % men voters- 52.5%, says EC.

Giving a detailed information on the polling % for the second phase of  Bihar polls, the EC says: "Kaimur saw 57.86% polling, Rohtas- 54.66%, Arwal- 53.21%, Jehanabad - 56.49%, Aurangabad- 52.50% and Gaya - 55.54%."

55 percent voter turnout registered in second phase of Bihar Assembly election today, says Umesh Sinha, Dy Election Commissioner.

Polling percentage of 52.53 percent was recorded in 32 constituencies spread over six Naxal-hit districts of Bihar where a cane bomb was found near a polling booth in Aurangabad district.

Over 50 percent of the 8.58 million eligible electorate voted by 3 pm in the second phase of Bihar polls.

Polling in 11 constituencies, known to be Maoist bastions, ended at 3 pm and an hour later in 12 other constituencies where Maoists are active but not that strong.

46.99 percent voters exercised their franchise till 2 pm in 32 constituencies spread over six Naxal-hit districts of Bihar.

Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Ram Manjhi casts his vote.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal anticipates a victory for Nitish Kumar and claimed that the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, was all set to "badly" lose the elections.

According to an Election Commission bulletin, while Gaya records a maximum turnout of 42.97 percent, Jehanabad recorded the lowest turnout of 33.83 percent till noon, 

In the remaining four districts, where polling is underway, Kaimur recorded 37.72 percent turnout, Rohtas recorded 35.32 percent, Arwal 36.94 percent and Aurangabad 35.07 percent.

Polling percentage of 36.27 recorded until 12 noon for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly polls that is underway in the state.

29.92 percent polling recorded until 11 am in the second phase of Bihar elections. No violence has been reported so far.

Also Read: Great support emerging for NDA across state, says Rudy

Kaimur records 16.68 percent voting, Rohtas 21.14 percent, Arwal 20.79 percent, Jehanabad 20.57 percent, Aurangabad 20.15 percent and Gaya 22 percent.

20.61 percent polling has been recorded till 10 am in the second phase of 2015 Bihar Assembly polls.

Also Read: Nitish claims BJP will end quota if it gets the numbers in RS

Minister of State for Skill Development and Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Friday expresses confidence of BJP forming the government in Bihar, saying that a great support is emerging for the NDA in the ongoing Assembly polls.

ANI reports that 10.76 percent polling has been recorded till 9.00 am in the second phase of  Bihar Elections.

A cane bomb found on Friday in polling booth number 144 near Rafiganj constituency in Aurangabad district.

Technical snag interrupts voting in Sasaram polling booth number 135, Bikramganj booth 64 and Dinara booth 99 and 112.

Also Read: EC reprimands Lalu, warns him not to repeat casteist remark

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RSLP) MP Arun Kumar casts his vote in second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections.

The second phase polling is crucial for Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is locked in a straight contest with the Speaker of the outgoing Assembly Uday Narain Chaudhary of JD(U). However, Manjhi is trying his luck from Makhdumpur seat in Jehanabad too.

Also Read: What will Bihar choose – development or caste?
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals to the electorate to turn up in large numbers and cast their vote.

आज बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव के दूसरे चरण के मतदान में सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन- अपना मतदान अवश्य करें ।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2015

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshamanan says while voting started at 7 am in all 32 constituencies, it would end at 3 pm in 11 seats, and at 4 pm in 12 others. Only 9 seats would have scheduled voting from 7 am to 5 pm.

Also Read: Can `Grand Alliance` in Bihar stop Narendra Modi wave?

Voting began at 7 am in all the seats and in view of the security threat, the voting time has been curtailed by one to two hours in as many as 23 constituencies.

Also Read - 2015 Bihar Assembly Elections: An Overview

Around 8.58 million voters are eligible to decide the fate of 456 candidates in 32 constituencies in the districts of Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, as well as Kaimur and Rohtas, which saw some horrific caste massacres in the 1980s and 1990s.

The first phase on Monday had seen a 57 percent turnout. The third phase of polling will take place on October 28, fourth on November 1 and the final phase will be on November 5. Counting will take place on November 8.