42 per cent turnout in Bihar bypolls

Around 42 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in 11 of the 18 Assembly seats in the second phase of Bihar bypolls that passed off peacefully on September 15, 2009. People boycotted the polls at over six polling stations to press for some of their local issues and there was no complaint from anywhere with regard to defects in EVMs.The polling was "absolutely violence-free", police claimed.

Altogether 25,15,474 electors were eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 99 candidates, including nine women, in the 11 constituencies.The ruling Janata Dal (United) is contesting on seven seats while its ally Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded its candidates in Bodh Gaya, Begusarai and Araria seats.

Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is contesting from Bagha, Nautan, Dhoraiya, Phulwari, Munger, Simri Bakhtiarpur and Ghosi while Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) has fielded candidates in Bodh Gaya, Begusarai, Araria and Triveniganj. The Congress is contesting on its own in all the 11 constituencies.

Our photographer Aftab Alam Siddiqui captures the scenes at different polling booths of Phulwari Assembly Constituency.