Satish Aditya
Motihari/Bettiah : Six out of 12 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in East Champaran District and three out of 9 in West Champaran District went to polls in the second phase of Bihar Assembly polls on November 3, 2020. Polling percentage was 52.66% in East Champaran and 55.99% in West Champaran.
The voters including first timers and senior citizens of Six assembly constituencies in East Champaran : Madhuban, Pipra, Kesariya,
Kalyanpur, Gobindganj, and Harsidhi cast their votes on 2,386 booths between 7 am and 5 pm without any fear of Covid 19. Majority of the voters were seen wearing masks. All the booths were sanitized and gloves were provided to the voters by the district administration. Several voters were seen covering their faces with ‘Gamachha’ (towel).
This reporter visited dozen of booths in three constituencies in Madhuban, Gobindganj, and Pipra ACs where large numbers of women voters were seen in queue at booths to cast their votes since early morning. A physically challenged 70 year old woman Sarita Devi reached the booth in Madhuban on carrier of a cycle to cast her vote.
As soon as the polling started at 7 am, 46 EVM machines were found defective and the same were replaced by the administration, said District Returning Officer cum DM East Champaran Shirshat Kapil Ashok. The poll on these booths started after installation of new EVMs.
A violent scuffle took place between supporters of JD(U) candidate Shalini Mishra and workers of Rajesh Kumar, an Independent candidate, on booth number 109 at village Sarrotar under Kesarita constituency. A case has been lodged in this conection with Dumariya -ghat police station. According to District Control Room, the voters of booth number 158 in Madhuban constituency boycotted the poll till 2 pm. They were shouting slogans like –’Road Nahi to Vote Nahi’ ( No Road, No Vote).
In West Champaran District Bettiah, Nautan, and Chanpatia AC went to polls on November 3, 2020.