Bihar polls: contest for 45 seats in 2nd phase

Patna: As 45 Assembly seats in six districts in the Maoist belt of Bihar go to polls in the second phase Sunday, the Election Commission has changed the poll timings in some constituencies after the ultras killed six policemen in Sheohar district.

The Maoists, who triggered a landmine blast last night, have given a poll boycott call. Official sources said Maoists' posters have appeared on government buildings and polling stations in East Champarana, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts.

In the wake of the blast, the EC has decided to hold polling in Sheohar and Belsand Assembly constituencies between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM along with three other Naxal-hit constituencies of Minapur, Paroo and Sahebgunj.

Political stalwarts whose fate will be decided include state RJD chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui (Alinagar), his JD(U) counterpart Vijay Kumar Choudhary (Sarairanjan), ministers Ramnath Thakur (Samastipur) and Shahid Ali Khan (Sursand).

LJP supremo Ram Vilas Paswan's brother Ramchandra Paswan will be taking on CLP leader Ashok Kumar in Kusheshwa Asthan. RJD Chief Whip Ramchandra Purve is contesting from Parihar, while former union minister M A A Fatmi's son Fraz Fatmi is in the fray from Kevati.

The Congress and the BSP are contesting all the seats.

The ruling JD(U) is contesting 28 seats and ally BJP 17. The RJD is in the fray in 34 Assembly constituencies, and ally LJP in 11.

CPI-M and CPI have put up eight candidates each, while CPI-ML (Liberation) is contesting in 11 seats.

Security has been stepped up for the polls with the borders with Nepal being sealed and patrolling on the ground and air surveillance intensified, Director General of Police Neelmani said.

"We are leaving nothing to chance with central paramilitary forces deployed at 85 polling stations besides armed police from other states and the Bihar Military Police and District Armed Police," Neelmani said.

The remaining 15 per cent polling stations will have static deployment of armed securitymen, he said.

Senior state officials, including the IG and Commissioners of Tirhut Division will keep surveillance from the air with Special Task Force personnel, he said.

On the ground, patrolling between one polling station and another would be increased, Neelmani said.