Bihar: 44% turnout in Daraunda assembly bypoll

Daraunda: An estimated 44 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the bypoll for Daraunda assembly seat in Bihar’s Siwan district on Thursday.

Acting Chief Electoral Officer Arvind Kumar Chaudhary told reporters at state election department office in Patna that the polling was peaceful. Security forces arrested seven people and seized four vehicles as preventive measures.

The polling percentage is comparatively lower than the 49.9 per cent votes cast in the constituency in the 2010 assembly polls, he said.

Nine candidates, including ruling JD(U)’s Kavita Singh, RJD’s Parmeshwar Singh and Kalika Sharan Singh (Congress) are in the fray for the seat which fell vacant following the death of sitting JD(U) MLA Jagmato Devi.

Counting of votes will take place on October 17.

PTI