Patna: Voting continued in the high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election on Thursday, with the Election Commission reporting a 33.57 per cent voter turnout by 5 PM. Polling began at 7 am and was conducted amid extensive security arrangements across the constituency.
Long queues of voters were seen at several polling stations during the day, although the overall pace of voting remained moderate.
Over 3.79 Lakh Voters Eligible
According to the Election Commission, 3,79,471 voters are eligible to vote in the by-election.
The electorate includes 2,00,060 male voters, 1,79,533 female voters, and 23 transgender voters.
Special arrangements were made for 3,166 voters aged above 85 and 1,024 persons with disabilities to ensure accessible voting.
Polling Across 422 Booths
Voting is taking place at 422 polling stations, including 247 booths in government buildings, 175 in private buildings, and nine mobile polling stations.
The Election Commission has also arranged live streaming from all polling stations, enabling election officials to monitor the process through a central control room.
Security Tight Across the Constituency
The district administration deployed police personnel and magistrates across polling stations to ensure peaceful polling.
Special surveillance has been maintained at sensitive locations, while officials said adequate security arrangements were in place throughout the day.
25 Candidates in the Fray
The Bankipur by-election is being contested by 25 candidates.
Initially, 40 candidates filed nominations. Following scrutiny, 14 nominations were rejected due to deficiencies in documentation, while one candidate later withdrew from the contest.
Election Commission’s Guidelines
The Election Commission has prescribed regulations for candidates and their supporters during polling.
Each candidate has been permitted a maximum of three vehicles for election agents and workers, with no more than five occupants per vehicle. Officials have warned that violations of the Model Code of Conduct will invite strict action.
