By IANS
Patna : Polling began Saturday morning for the by-election to the Bikramganj Lok Sabha seat in Bihar amid tight security and shoot-at-sight orders against booth grabbers.
The state government also sealed the borders with Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh to check entry of troublemakers. Official sources said polling began on a peaceful note.
“No untoward incident has been reported during the first three hours,” officials said. State police chief A.R. Sinha said elaborate security arrangements have been made for free and fair election in Bikramganj.
About 40 companies of the central paramilitary forces, district armed police and special auxiliary police have been deployed in the constituency. The Election Commission has also deployed micro observers in the Maoist-dominated areas to monitor polling.
Official sources said a low turnout of voters was recorded in the morning due to cold weather. The voting percentage is expected to rise as the day progresses.
The Bikramganj Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of Janata Dal (United) member of parliament Ajit Singh in a road accident a few months ago.
In Bikramganj, the main fight is between ruling JD(U) candidate Meena Singh, widow of Ajit Singh, and opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Ashok Kumar Kushwaha.
The JD(U) is supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is supported by the Congress, National Congress Party (NCP) and Communist Party of India(CPI). The CPI(M-L)candidate, Arun Kumar Singh, is supported by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Bikramganj bypoll is seen as a litmus test for ruling JD(U)and the opposition RJD.
Several central ministers and other leaders, including RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati, have campaigned here. Most of the ministers of the Nitish Kumar government also camped here for days, seeking support of the people.