Bihar bypolls underway; 31.25% voter turnout in Araria till noon

ANI photo

PATNA: Voting for bypolls to three Bihar seats — Araria Lok Sabha and Jehanabad and Bhabua assembly seats began on Sunday morning. The polling will continue till 5 in the evening.

The chief contest is between BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance comprising of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM (S)] or HAM-S. The outcome of the bypolls are likely to set the tone for 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Araria Lok Sabha bypolls were necessitated following the death of sitting RJD lawmaker Mohammad Taslimuddin. The bypolls to Jehanabad and Bhabua assembly seats are being held following the death of sitting legislators from the RJD and the BJP, respectively. 

11 March 2018

13:23 IST

#Araria by-poll: An elderly woman casts her vote with the help of family members. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/VB2l7yVTwS

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018

13:21 IST

RJD candidate for #Araria by-poll, Sarfaraz Alam, casts his vote. On allegations of BJP he said, "Jo sheeshe ke ghar mein rehte hain dusron pe pathar nahi maarte. I am sure of a victory, my religion is development.' #Bihar pic.twitter.com/88aopp6YJd

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018