Bihar 2020 Election Results LIVE Updates: Vote Counting Begins for 243 Member Assembly Results May Be Delayed Due to Additional Polling Stations

Bihar 2020 Election Result LATEST Counts & Updates: The fate of the Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) government, who has led Bihar for a decade and a half, will be decided on Tuesday when the results of the elections to the 243-member legislative assembly are declared.

The counting of votes began Tuesday morning for the Bihar assembly elections in three phases that may herald a new era in state politics, with exit polls predicting a victory for the RJD-led Grand Alliance.

The exercise will decide the electoral fate of more than 3,700 candidates who are in the race to win the 243 seats in the state assembly.

After the conclusion of the Bihar Assembly elections in three phases on Saturday, the counting of votes will begin today, November 10 (Tuesday).

The mandate of the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on 29 November. Of the total allocation, 38 seats are reserved for SC and two for ST.

The Electoral Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting, establishing 55 counting centers in 38 districts of Bihar, with 414 counting rooms established.

Three counting centers have been established each in four districts of East Champaran (which has 12 electoral districts), Gaya (10 seats), Siwan (eight electoral districts) and Begusarai (seven electoral districts).

In the first phase, 71 seats spread over 16 districts were put to the vote on October 28 (1,066 candidates), while in the second, voters in 94 seats in 17 districts cast their vote on November 3 (1,463 candidates). In the third phase, 78 seats spread over 15 districts went to the polls on November 7 (1,204 candidates).

In accordance with the established guidelines, the Electoral Commission due to the coronavirus pandemic, no more than 7 counting tables will be allowed in counting rooms, in order to maintain social distancing.

Masks will be mandatory to enter the counting centers, in addition to disinfectants will be kept in adequate quantity there.

In the state capital, Patna, votes for the Assembly’s 14 constituencies will be counted in a single center established at AN College. The survey panel said it is preparing 30 count hallways at the university.

Bihar’s electoral director HR Srinivasa said the Election Commission has established a three-level security system for the security rooms (which house the electronic voting machines) and the counting centers.

The inner core is being guarded by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), then there is the Bihar Military Police (BMP) and then the district police, he told reporters.

“We have deployed 19 CAPF companies just for the security of strong rooms and counting centers.

In addition, we have 59 CAPF companies to ensure law and order during and after the counting process. “A CAPF company comprises about 100 people.

The executive director said the Electoral Commission will strictly deal with any “antisocial” elements that indulge in “hooliganism” during or after the vote.

The additional general director of the police (headquarters), Jitendra Kumar, said that CCTV cameras were installed in the control rooms.

“Their display is in the offices of the District Election Officials. And they are also being monitored regularly by the Chief Election Officer,” he said.

In the Bhagalpur district, which has two counting centers, Government Polytechnic College, Barari and Women’s ITI, preparations are being made for the November 10 results for seven seats in the assembly.

Display screens are being installed and two tents are being erected at each counting center for journalists and security personnel.

Arrangements are being made to set up seven tables in each of the 14 classrooms.

Prohibition orders have been imposed under article 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in and around counting centers to prevent the gathering of people.

In the Bhojpur district, the votes of the seven constituencies of the assembly will be counted in a center established in Samiti Godown Bazaar, Arrah.

At the polls this year, Rashtriya Janata Dal is competing from 144 seats, Congress 70, and leftist parties will compete together from 29 seats.

Majority exit polls released after the third and final round of polls suggest that Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav, could have an advantage over the NDA.

But who will actually get the magic number of 122 in the house of 243 will be known only after the votes are counted on Tuesday.

In spite of COVID-19 , Bihar voter turnout higher than 2015

Bihar registered a 57.05 percent turnout in this year’s Assembly elections, slightly higher than in 2015 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to official data.

Voter turnout in the elections held in 2015 was 56.66 percent, data from the Electoral Commission showed. The turnout of female voters this year was 59.69 percent, higher than that of male voters at 54.68 percent.

This year’s turnout was boosted by relatively aggressive polls in the third phase in which 78 seats voted in the 15 districts of Kosi-Seemanchal, Mithilanchal and Tirhut.

Turnout in the third phase of the elections, held on November 7, is nearly 60 percent compared to 55.68 percent in the first phase and 55.70 percent in the second.

In last year’s Lok Sabha elections, a turnout of 57.33 percent was recorded.

No re-voting was ordered in any constituency where elections were held in the third phase, the sources said.

Election observers and tellers who were on duty in the third phase completed the count and no reruns were recommended, they said.

This was the first major election held in the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

To facilitate COVID-19 patients or suspected of having the infection, the commission had extended the duration of the vote by one hour.

Around 5.30 lakh of election officials received special training in the wake of the pandemic.

With PTI inputs