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Seven Lok Sabha constituencies go to the poll in Bihar tomorrow in the second of the six-phase election, for which security has been stepped up as many of the seats fall in the Maoist belt.
An electorate of 11,85,07,86 is expected to exercise franchise in 11,846 polling stations to decide the fate of 117 candidates in Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Munger, Ara and Buxar Lok Sabha constituencies.
Prominent among the candidates are actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, former Home Secretary R K Singh, Lalu Prasad's eldest daughter Misa Bharti and her two uncles Ramkripal Yadav and Ranjan Yadav.
A high-pitch campaign addressed by star BJP candidates preceded tomorrow's election. The party's man of the moment and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed rallies at Jehanabad, Ara and Bikram in Patliputra seats on April 10.
Likewise, BJP veteran L K Advani made his maidan poll campaign in Bihar by addressing rallies at Banka and Katihar on April 14.
Cinestar Shatrughan Sinha, seeking re-election from Patna Sahib, also addressed a large number of rallies, with his Congress rival and Bhojpuri actor Kunal Singh working hard to throw a good challenge.
Chief Secretary A K Sinha told reporters that a total of 42,600 security personnel will be deployed for smooth conduct of the polls.
As in the first phase of polls, two helicopters would be put in service for tomorrow's election.
Accompanied by Director General of Police Abhyanand, Sinha said 152 companies of central forces and 74 Bihar Military police would be on duty on April 17 polling.
As per Election Commission decision, voting in seven Maoist-hit Assembly constituencies would end at 4 PM while in the rest it would be conducted till 6 PM.
The seven Assembly constituencies that would witness truncated voting time are in Naxal-affected Munger, Lakhisarai, Jehanabad and rural Patna comprising areas in Patliputra parliamentary constituency.
