Over 1.35 crore voters will decide the electoral fortune of 583 candidates, including 54 women in this phase.
Patna: Polling for the first phase of the five-phase Bihar Assembly elections began on Monday amid tight security in 49 constituencies spread over 10 districts.
The poll bound districts are Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagariya, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Nawada and Jamui.
Over 1.35 crore voters will decide the electoral fortune of 583 candidates, including 54 women in this phase.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh cast his vote in Lakhisarai and expressed confidence that the mahagathbandhan would fail.
“I am sure that the arrogance of Lalu Prasad Yadav is going to take a fall. PM Modi has talked about development and welfare of poor and the people of Bihar are wise enough to take the right decision. The grand alliance is going to fall flat on its face,” Singh told ANI.
People were seen queuing up since early in the morning to cast their votes.
“We are voting so that we can obtain good roads, water, electricity and employment. Prices of daily commodities are rising so high that it has become very difficult for us to run the household,” a voter from Bhagalpur said.
According to reports, most of the areas are naxal infested where the polling is underway and in view of this, central paramilitary forces have been deployed at every booth.
For the first time unmanned aerial vehicle Drone will be used by the security forces in remote maoist affected areas. Commandos will carry out air surveillance by two helicopters.