Watch Bihar Elections Phase 3 Live Updates

Under attack over alleged attempts of tinkering with quotas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Bihar's grand alliance of plotting to take away five per cent share in reservations for SC, ST and OBCs and give it to "a particular community", a move he vowed to oppose.

"Aapke aarakshan ki suraksha ke liye, Modi jaan ki baazi laga dega. Inko khula karna meri jimmewari hai," he said speaking in Hindi. Loosely translated, he meant he would not spare any effort to ensure reservation for the weaker lot. He claimed he would "expose" the Grand Alliance's twisted schemes to take away what he alleges is a 5 % share for some other community.

Modi stepped up his attack alleging that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his RJD ally Lalu Prasad were “conspiring” to snatch 5 per cent each from the quota meant for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and EBCs and “give it to another community” but he did not say which one this was.

Opposition parties slammed Modi’s comments saying he is trying to polarise voters.

Modi brought the narrative back to how the elections started - with a bribery sting video that embarassed the Grand Alliance no end before even a single vote was cast.

Modi hit out at the Congress and its “Madam” saying that three decades of “misrule” had made Bihar’s youth leave the state to find work elsewhere.

Speaking to reporters, Nitish Kumar rubbished Modi’s claims. “There is no fact in the PM’s allegation of us plotting to take away 5 per cent reservation from SC, ST and OBC to give it to a particular community,” he said.

"The leaders of this 'Mahaswarth' (opportunistic) alliance are trying to mislead the people on the issue of reservation ... It is clear through the discussion of our Constitution makers that reservation cannot be given on the basis of religion. The Supreme Court has said reservation cannot be more than 50 per cent. There is a cap.

"I come from an extremely backward class and understand the pain of having been born to a poor woman. I will not allow this to happen. I pledge to protect the rights of dalits, mahadalits and backward classes," he said addressing an election rally in Buxar.

Modi attacked Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Sonia Gandhi for trying to "mislead" the people on the issue of reservation.

If the anti-BJP alliance is voted to power 'jungle raj' will return and crimes like kidnappings and atrocities on women will rise, he said.

To watch the Bihar Elections Phase 3 Live updates online stay tuned with us.

Modi also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad for not acting against the corrupt and cited recent examples where their MLAs and candidates were allegedly found taking bribes and "fixing deals".

Article Source: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/bihar-polls-modi-alleges-grand-alliance-plot-to-take-away-5-sc-st-obc-reservation-2482972.html

Watch Phase 2 Bihar Elections Live Updates

It's once again a great and important decision time. Time for Bihar elections with the media and many Indian TV Channels focusing on the  live updates about the key candidates and whether the polls will be different from the 2010 polls. Here are the latest updates and all you need to know.

The second phase of Bihar Elections began today with BJP led NDA ready and prepared to lock horns with JD(U)-RJD popularly known as the grand regional alliance. All the live updates will be available in all Indian TV Channels. For more updates regarding Bihar Polls and for the live updates stay tuned @ https://www.yupptv.com/channels/india-today-news1/live

Bihar Election Polls Live Updates

Total voting turnout till 10 AM is 20.15%. Samastipur- 19.89%; Begusarai - 21.08%; Khagaria- 19.28%; Bhagalpur - 18.95%; Banka - 21.67%; Munger- 18.11%; Lakhisarai - 21.59%; Sheikhpura - 18.74%; Nawada 19.29%; Jamui - 23.50% 

"Till 9 AM, 13 per cent turnout has been recorded in all the 49 assembly constituencies going to polls in the first phase. Polling is peaceful in the state as we have received no information of any untoward untoward incident," Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshmanan said.

 A CRPF commandant, identified as P K Mishra, and his body guard Mantu Kumar were injured in a road mishap in Bihar's Munger district during patrolling of elections. The motor-cycle borne commandant and the jawan were injured when they lost control of the vehicle in order to save an animal, Mishra, who has been admitted to Sadar hospital, said.

Voters in Kalyanpur seat booth numbers 172, 178 boycott polls in protest over closure of jute mill
Voter turnout till 9AM: Banka-13.99%, Samastipur 13.55%, Khagaria 11.77%, Begusarai- 15%, Jamui – 15.4%, Munger 13%, Bhagalpur 12%

7% voting has been registered till 8 AM. In Lakhisarai 6%; Banka 7.3%; Begusarai 6.8%; Bhagalpur 5%; Nawada 5%; Munger 6%; Samastipur has recorded the lowest percentage in the first hour at 2.8% 

Police personnel dies of heart attack in Begusarai's polling booth no. 182

Nitish Kumar will be addressing rallies in Sasaram, Rohtas, Aurangabad and Arval on Monday even as the first phase of polls is underway in the state. 

Avadhesh Kushwaha calls allegations against him a conspiracy. "I am very popular in my constituency. I have done lot for development of my area, allegations on me are a part of hatched conspiracy by political opponents. I will bring truth before people. I was hurt by allegations therefore I have resigned," he said.

BJP claims there is there is intense protest against Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad. "One reason is they tied knot with Congress. People are angry of their jungle raj. Surely BJP will win this election. Bihar has suffered the jungle raj for a long time," BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh said. 

EC directs concerned District Magistrate to probe into alleged sting involving former Bihar Cabinet Minister Awadhesh Kushwaha.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshamanan has told local media that the faulty EVMs have been replaced and polling is continuing uninterrupted.

Some anomalies are being reported from some polling states in the state. In booth number 183 in Barbigha, EVM is not working. EVMs also not working at booth number 25 in Bhagalpur and one booth in Munger. The voting has not even begun at booth number 209 in Nawada.

Narendra Modi urges people of Bihar to vote in large numbers. "Urging all those voting today in Bihar to vote in large numbers. I particularly urge my young friends to cast their vote," Modi tweets.

According to the Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch, as many as 130 candidates in the first round of polls face serious criminal charges including murder.

'Mahagathbandhan' will hit a blow in this election: BJP leader Giriraj Singh.

Jamui DM Kaushal Kishore appeals to people to cast their vote. "People are casting their vote on development,"he said. He also claimed that booth capturing and violence have become things of past now.

The first phase of the high voltage Bihar Election Polls has begun as voting began for the first phase at 7 am on Monday. As many as 49 constituencies from across 10 districts from the eastern and central part of the state will vote on Monday sealing the fate of 583 candidates including 54 women nominees. 

A total of 1,35,72,339 electorates, including 72,37,253 men, 63,17,602 women and 405 of third gender, are eligible to exercise their right to vote.

Voting will end at 3 PM and 4 PM in the booths situated areas where Naxals hold the sway in the state. While Central Para Military Force will be deployed on all the booths, drones and helicopter would also be put in service.

The elections have turned into a bipolar contest between two big alliances – National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan. While the NDA comprises of small players like Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the front, the Mahagathbandhan consists of the Janata Dal United (JDU), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.

But on the ground, the battle has confined to two political giants, who have become the face of the respective alliances –Narendra Modi representing the NDA and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been touted as the face of a developing Bihar for the last decade. 

The battle is one of high-stakes, and has the capacity to make or break several political careers. Just like those whose fate is at stake, the voter is also divided, probably more than ever. Divided along several factors such as caste, desire for development, and choice of leaders, many voters say they are yet to make up their minds giving sleepless night to the candidates. But there are certain factors which are going to impact the results.

Meanwhile, leaving no stone unturned Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Bhabua on Monday. Though the Janata Dal United and the Rashtriya Janata Dal met Election Commission officials on Sunday seeking a ban on the live telecast on the PM's rallies when the polls are underway, the EC gave a go ahead for the rally.

Article Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/voting-begins-in-49-seats-for-first-phase-of-high-voltage-bihar-assembly-elections-1150504.html?utm_source=IBN%20News