Bihar elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and outgoing Bihar CM Nitish Kumar have led aggressive campaigns for their respective alliances Bihar elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and outgoing Bihar CM Nitish Kumar have led aggressive campaigns for their respective alliances

60 per cent of the electorate on Thursday exercised their franchise in the final round of five-phased polling in Bihar Assembly elections, helping the state register an overall figure of 56.80 per cent–the highest in assembly election in the state’s history.

Deputy Election Commisioner Umesh Sinha told reporters here that the entire poll process in the state in all the 243 seats was conducted in a peaceful manner without any major untoward incident.

Watch Video: Bihar Exit Polls

“While the total poll percentage for the fifth phase of polls is 60 percent, the overall figures for all the five phases in Bihar has been calculated at 56.80 percent,” he said adding “this is the highest in assembly polls in the state.”

57 constituencies spread over nine districts went to polls on Thursday.

The staggered Bihar Assembly polls for the 243-seat Assembly began on October 12 while counting of votes will take place on November 8 (Sunday).

The poll panel said this year’s assembly poll in all the five rounds saw women outnumbering men in turnout–59.92 per cent against 54.07 per cent. Polling in the final phase today also saw women’s turnout ahead of men–63.60 per cent against 56.05 per cent.

Highlights

5:30 pm: Amit Shah says will speak on November 8.

5:16 pm 59.46% polling recorded for the 5th and final phase

5:00 pm

I think we (Mahagathbandhan) will win 190 seats, not less than that: Lalu Yadav pic.twitter.com/qC6IhtIJQM — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

4:45 pm Clashes between Mahagathbandhan and NDA workers in Alinagar (Darbhanga); security forces rushed in.

4:37 pm: 55.90 per cent polling recorded till 4pm

3:55 pm: As soon as the clock strikes five and the Election Commission declares the process of polling over, news channels are expected to dish out their exit poll results in the state. Although polls have been notoriously proven wrong in the past,

3:50 pm: The updated voting figures are here and it looks like this round, the state might go on to post an impressive 60% turnout.

Till 3 pm, nearly 52% of the electorate have visited the booth.

2:45 pm: So the polling across districts in the Seemanchal and Mithilanchal belt is good. At least 45% of the electorate have voted already till 2 pm. Three hours to go for polls to end.

1:30 pm: It seems BJP leaders are all very confident about the results.

#BiharPolls is between hope and disappointment. People want change, we’ll win convincingly: Ravi Shankar Prasad pic.twitter.com/Boj8qdeFOY — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

12:41 pm: So at half-time, we have about 31% of the electorate who have exercised their right to vote in the ongoing elections. If this trend continues through the afternoon, we might see a healthy 60% turnout by 5 pm.

Both parties would claim a higher turnout is swinging things in their favour, but only November 8 will tell the real tale.

11:53 am: 24.29% polling recorded till 11 am.

11:38 am: Expert analyst Surjit Bhalla predicts which way the wind is blowing in Bihar. Is it advantage BJP or advantage Grand Alliance? Find out here.

10:37 am: 17.67% polling recorded till 10 am.

10:25 am: Enthusiastic participation from voters in Katihar.

Long queues outside a polling booth in Katihar #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/VyokoBzai4 — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

10:20 am: Polling seem to be brisk in this round. 11.23% voting recorded till 9 am.

8:51 am: Okay, so the initial polling figures have come in. 5.58% voting has been recorded till 8 am.

8:39 am: Caste pervades Bihar all around and when it comes to elections, there is just no getting away from it. At a time when development and progress defines electoral campaigns across the country, Bihar may just stand out.

Here is a great story by Muzamil Jaleel on the condition of a Brahmin slum in Chhatapur where poverty has taken everything from them, except their attitude.

Such huts are the only possession of needy Brahmins in this settlement in Ratansar village, Chhatapur. (Express Photo by: Muzamil Jaleel) Such huts are the only possession of needy Brahmins in this settlement in Ratansar village, Chhatapur. (Express Photo by: Muzamil Jaleel)

8:22 am: A landmark madrasa in Darbhanga thanks Nitish Kumar for his educational reforms. Want to find out more? Read the story here.

Niyazuddin Quereshi instructs students of Madrasa-e-Hamidia. (Express Photo by: Prashant Ravi) Niyazuddin Quereshi instructs students of Madrasa-e-Hamidia. (Express Photo by: Prashant Ravi)

8:18 am: Will the Asaduddin Owaisi and Pappu Yadav factors make an impact in this round? Read here.

8:14 am: And here’s a sign of the women power in these elections. A shot from Darbhanga.

Women queue up to vote outside a polling booth in Darbhanga #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/HzLQyltoIf — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

8:00 am: Just to give our readers an idea of why this phase is important for both the alliances. Check the graphic below to see where each party stands.

[Click on the image to view it in a larger size]

7:55 am: A technical snag had reportedly stalled voting at a couple of booths in Purnia. But now, apparently the snag has been fixed.

7:53 am: And here’s one from a polling booth in Supaul.

Voting underway in the 5th phase of #BiharPolls in Supaul pic.twitter.com/BmpjkDaz63 — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

7:52 am: A scene outside a polling station in Darbhanga

Voting underway in the 5th phase of #BiharPolls in Darbhanga pic.twitter.com/V9VJ4qdxVd — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

7:50 am: A massive 1.55 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase to elect 857 candidates. 7:45 am: Polling has begun in fifth and final phase of Bihar election

Voting begins in 5th phase of #BiharPolls: Voters lined up outside a polling booth in Purnia pic.twitter.com/6k7FR94XJn — ANI (@ANI_news) November 5, 2015

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