By IANS,
Patna : Nearly 38 percent voters exercised their franchise in the second and final phase of by-elections in 11 assembly constituencies in Bihar Tuesday, officials said.
Officials said that polling ended peacefully with no reports of violence.
Polling was slow in the early hours but picked up pace later in the day.
“An estimated 38 percent votes were polled and small queues were seen at different polling centres in all the 11 constituencies,” official sources said.
Some reports said residents in dozens of villages boycotted the elections in at least six constituencies, protesting lack of development.
According to officials, small queues of voters were seen at some polling stations in most constituencies after the 7 a.m. opening time.
Additional Director General of Police Neelmani said that elaborate security arrangements were made and paramilitary forces were deployed as some pockets in rural constituencies were identified as Maoist-affected.
A total of 2,515,474 voters in the 11 constituencies of the state are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 99 candidates including nine women.
The 11 constituencies where by-polls were held: Bodh Gaya, Bagaha, Nautan, Phulwari, Ghosi, Munger, Begusarai, Triveniganj, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Araria and Dhoraiya.