An estimated 57.59 per cent of over 1.46 crore voters exercised their franchise in 55 assembly constituencies in Bihar today in the fourth and penultimate round which passed off "by and large" peacefully, recording the highest turnout in the current elections.
The polling was held under tight security in 55 seats spread across seven districts of Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Gopalganj and Siwan.
Deputy Election Commissioner incharge of Bihar Umesh Sinha told a press conference that at 57.59 per cent, the voter turnout today can be described as a "record".
"In phase one, the turnout was 54.85 per cent. In phase two it was 54.99 per cent and in the third phase the turnout was recorded at 54.24 per cent," he said, adding average of all the four phases was 55.41 per cent.
In the constituencies which went to poll today, the turnout in the 2010 assembly elections was 54.28 per cent and 57.33 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he said.
The last phase of polling will be held on November 5 and the counting will take place next Sunday on November 8.
The Deputy EC said," By and large, the polling went off peacefully barring a few incidents of violence."
In Siwan district, the central forces had to open fire in the air to disperse crowd when members of two communities pelted stones at each other. Personnel of central paramilitary forces had to use "force" at a polling station in Muzaffarpur when three persons allegedly tried to enter a polling compartment.
A HAM candidate, Lovely Yadav, allegedy tore a register containing certain forms related to elections at a polling station following which a complaint was registered against her, he said.
