Overview
- Polling began at 7 a.m. across 122 constituencies with 14.55% turnout reported by 9 a.m. and 31.38% by 11 a.m., according to election officials.
- About 3.70 crore electors are eligible to vote at 45,399 polling stations, with webcasting arranged at every booth, officials said.
- A total of 1,302 candidates are in the fray, including 12 state ministers and high-profile contenders such as Prem Kumar, Renu Devi, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Tarkishore Prasad.
- Security has been ramped up with roughly 4 lakh personnel deployed and additional vigilance in border districts and the Seemanchal region identified as a key battleground.
- Exit-poll publication is restricted until voting concludes this evening, and counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.