Patna, May 13 (UNI) An estimated 22.54 percent of 95.83 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling on five seats of Bihar on Monday during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Five Lok Sabha seats where electorate are exercising their franchise are-- Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger.
Sources at the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that 22.54 percent of the electorate exercised their franchise till 11 AM.
Maximum 23.69 percent polling was recorded in Samastipur followed by 22.85 in Munger, 22.79 in Ujiarpur,22.73 in Darbhanga and 20.85 percent Begusarai.
A large number of electorate are waiting in long queues at booths for their turns to cast their votes. Women and first time voters are enthusiastic to exercise their franchise.
Union Ministers Giriraj Singh, Nityanand Rai, former JD(U) president Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh are among star candidates whose fate would be sealed by voters in EVMs. A total of 55 candidates, including four women are in fray today.
Snags developed in EVMs at booth number 231 in Darbhanga and at booth number 251 in Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seat. Authorities were engaged in rectifying snags and restart polling.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh exercised his franchise at booth number 34 in Begusarai while Rajya Sabha member Ram Nath Thakur exercised his franchise in Samastipur Lok Sabha seat.
UNI KKS ARN