Patna, April 23 (Inditop) Voting for the second phase of parliamentary elections in 13 of the 40 constituencies in Bihar began Thursday morning amid heavy security arrangements.
Voters started queueing up at many of the 17,130 polling stations much before the 7 a.m. opening time.
In all, 16.9 million people are eligible to exercise their franchise and decide the fate of 189 candidates.
Aditional Director General of Police Neelmani told IANS that security has been beefed up as “seven out of 10 districts where balloting are being held have been identified as Maoist-affected”.
Of them, Sheohar, East Champaran, West Champaran and Badaha are considered Maoist strongholds.
Two air force helicopters have been deployed for surveillance and the border with Nepal has been sealed to check insurgency during the polls.
