Patna, May 24: A moderate polling of around 40 per cent was registered during repolling for 622 booths in Bettiah and Siwan Lok Sabha constituencies which passed off peacefully today, election office sources said. Incessant rains since morning was attributed as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in the two constituencies.
There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the two seats, official sources said.
An average of 30-35 per cent polling was recorded in 429 booths of Bettiah.
Noted film-maker Prakash Jha, an independent candidate from Bettiah, who cast his vote at a booth in his native village Barharwa, said voting was peaceful.
''I am satisfied with the conduct of repoll in 429 booths of the seat under strict vigil of central para-military forces,'' Jha, on whose complaint the Election Commission had ordered an inquiry into the April 26 polling in the seat and later ordered repoll in 429 booths told over phone from Bettiah.
Jha is locked in a keen electoral battle with Madan Prasad Jaiswal of BJP and Raghunath Jha of RJD in Bettiah.
An average 40-45 per cent polling was recorded in Siwan, where also polling was held on April 26 and repoll ordered in 193 booths.
RJD strongman Md Sahabuddin is seeking re-election for the fourth term from Siwan. He is facing challenge from Om Prakash Yadav of JD-U and Amarnath Yadav of CPI-ML (Liberation).
Bureau Report