Overview
- About 3.7 crore electors are casting ballots for 1,302 candidates at 45,399 polling stations, with voting scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and minor timing variations in sensitive areas.
- Police officials report roughly four lakh personnel on duty with large CAPF contingents, checkpoints sealed on the Nepal border, and a heightened alert following the Delhi metro blast.
- Webcasting has been arranged at every polling booth and EVMs with VVPATs are in use, according to the Bihar chief electoral office.
- A dozen sitting ministers are in the fray, with key contests across Seemanchal and other districts that could shape the 243‑member assembly.
- Bye‑elections are underway in eight constituencies nationwide, including Nuapada in Odisha where 14 CAPF companies are deployed and IAF helicopters ferried teams to Naxal‑affected booths for 2,53,624 eligible voters.