Over 48% turnout recorded in four seats of Bihar in first phase of Lok Sabha election

A provisional voter turnout of 48.23% was recorded in the four constituencies of Bihar

A provisional voter turnout of 48.23% was recorded in the four constituencies of Bihar that went to the polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on Friday.

The four seats are Gaya, Jamui, Nawada and Aurangabad. Former Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi is in the fray in Gaya against Kumar Sarvajeet of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

In another key contest, Arun Bharti, brother-in-law of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, is up against RJD candidate Archana Ravidas in Jamui.

In Nawada, Vivek Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is locked in a direct contest with the RJD’s Shravan Kushwaha, while Sushil Kumar Singh of the BJP is contesting against RJD candidate Abhay Kushwaha in Aurangabad.

Gaya recorded a voter turnout of 52%, Aurangabad 50%, Jamui 50%, and Nawada 41.50%.

Voters boycotted polling at seven booths in protest against lack of civic amenities. Twelve people were taken into preventive detention in Gaya and 20 in Nawada.

Voting in 14 Naxalism-affected Assembly segments took place till 4 p.m. These are Sherghati, Barachhati, Bodhgaya, Giruwa, Imamganj, Tikari, Rajauli, Govindpur, Tarapur, Jhajha, Chakai, Sikandra, Kutumba and Rafiganj.