Patna, September 10: Security has been beefed up in seven Assembly constituencies in Bihar where bypolls would be held on Thursday.
The seven constituencies where bypolls are scheduled today are – Warisnagar, Kalyanpur, Bochaha, Chenari, Aurai, Chainpur and Ramgarh.
Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani said that fool-proof security arrangements have been made for ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.
All the polling stations spread over these constituencies would have “strong presence” of regular forces, including District Armed Police (DAP), Bihar Military Police (BMP), Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar police and central para-military forces, Neelmani said.
The entry and exit points of the constituencies would be sealed at the time of polling, he said.
The timing of voting at the polling stations in naxal-hit areas would be reduced by two hours from 1700 hrs to 1500 hrs to ensure that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) reach the strong rooms before evening, Neelmani said.
The Union Home ministry has allocated BSF, CRPF, CISF Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sima Surekasha Bal (SSB) battalions for the bypolls, Neelmani said.
There would be intense patrol between polling centres and close watch would be kept on trouble-makers on the polling day, he said.
RJD of Lalu Prasad and LJP of Ramvila Paswan intensively campaigned for the candidates of the alliance to have better showing in the bypolls.
Thursday’s bypoll, rulling JD(U) has fielded its candidates from Bochaha, Kalyanpur, Chenari and Aurai and its ally– BJP has put up its candidates Chainpur, Ramgarh and Warisnagar.
Similarly, RJD has its candidates in Bochaha, Kalyanpuri, Chenari, Aurai, Chainpur and Ramgarh, while its junior partner LJP has put up its candidates from Warisnagar.
The Congress is contesting the elections on its own from all the seven seats. All the seven constituencies in Bihar are witnessing a multi-cornered fight.
Around 14.93 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in tomorrow’s bypolls at 1622 polling stations spread over these constituencies to decide the electoral fate of 71 contestants.
–Agencies