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Polling in Gaya district peaceful

K. Balchand

49 per cent turnout registered; intermittent rain poses difficulties for campaigners

— Photo: PTI

IDENTIFICATION DRIVE: A voter being photographed at a polling booth in Gaya on Friday as per an Election Commission directive.

PATNA: The deferred election in the four Assembly constituencies of Gaya district, held under the watchful eyes of the security forces on Friday, was peaceful. The repolling in 130 booths spread over several constituencies, which went to the polls on October 18 in the first phase, went off well too. The turnout was put at 49 per cent.

The Election Commission had deferred election in Belaganj, Gaya Town, Gaya Rural and Bodh Gaya on security grounds. No untoward incident was reported and only one arrest was made.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate for Obra constituency, Satyanarain Singh Yadav, was detained as a precautionary measure.

Intermittent rain affected the polling process. The rain, coupled with poor visibility and a stiff, cold breeze affected campaigning by top leaders and more than 100 public meetings in constituencies going to the polls on October 26.

The few helicopters pressed into service were grounded as soon as they took off in weather deemed dangerous for flying. Those whose trips were cancelled included RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Lok Jan Shakti Party chief and Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. However, Bharatiya Janata Party president L.K. Advani hit the campaign trail by road.

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Polling in Gaya district peaceful

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