Gaya: Polling for the by-elections in four assembly constituencies across Gaya, Bhojpur, and Kaimur districts concluded peacefully on Wednesday, with an estimated voter turnout of 51.36% by 5 PM, according to officials from the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The by-elections were held for the Tarari, Belaganj, Imamganj, and Ramgarh assembly seats in Bihar, following the vacancies created after MLAs from these constituencies were elected to the Lok Sabha.
Despite a few incidents, including a clash between two political parties in Tarari and the seizure of a tanker full of liquor in Ramgarh, the overall voting process was calm. In the clash in Tarari, one individual sustained head injuries, while several others were reportedly injured. The dispute arose over party support at polling booth 223 in Dharmapura village, Bihta Panchayat.
The highest voter turnout was recorded in Belaganj, where 53.4% of voters cast their ballots. Election officials also reported smooth conduct of voting in the Naxal-affected Imamganj constituency, including in the remote Chhakarbandha hill area, where all election officials and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were airlifted to the strongroom by helicopter after polling ended. Special security measures ensured a peaceful election process, particularly in sensitive areas of Imamganj, where 346 booths were set up, 320 of which were classified as “very sensitive.”
More than 12 lakh voters participated in the by-elections, with 38 candidates vying for the four legislative seats. Among the candidates are several prominent figures, including the sons and daughters-in-law of senior political leaders. The ruling NDA, led by the BJP, is contesting the Tarari and Ramgarh seats, keen on maintaining its momentum ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
Notably, voting was boycotted in Sivandih, Imamganj, with locals expressing dissatisfaction over poor infrastructure. Residents of Belaganj also voiced their desire for “new faces” to represent them.
The by-election polling took place in 1,277 booths, with 1,196 of them located in rural areas. Security was reinforced with tight arrangements, particularly in the Naxal-affected areas, to ensure a smooth and incident-free process.
Polling continued until 6 PM across most constituencies, though in certain sensitive booths in Imamganj, voting hours were extended until 4 PM. With more than 12 lakh voters casting their ballots, the outcome of the by-election is set to impact the political landscape of Bihar in the run-up to the 2024 state elections.
