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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday appealed to the people of Bihar to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.
Speaking to IANS, Manjhi said, “Our first appeal to the people of Bihar is that everyone should use their right to vote, every citizen must cast their vote. This is our biggest request to all sections of the society. Secondly, under the leadership of the double engine government, Bihar is moving fast in terms of development and law and order, progressing at a speed of more than 100 per cent.”
Speaking about the governance and stability of the current administration, the HAM founder praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and described his leadership as the key to better law and order in Bihar.
“During Nitish Kumar’s tenure, there has been no caste riot or religious unrest. The situation has also been manageable from a law and order perspective,” Manjhi said. “An incident happened in Mokama, yet we did not shy away from putting people from our own side in jail when necessary. Nitish Kumar’s basic principle is that he neither implicates anyone nor protects anyone wrongfully.”
Manjhi’s comments are being seen as a call for higher voter turnout and an affirmation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) campaign story – that of steady progress and social harmony under the “double engine” government led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre.
The Election Commission has urged all eligible voters to reach their polling stations and cast their votes responsibly in the ongoing first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.
Voting for the first phase of Bihar assembly elections began at 7 am on Thursday in 18 districts, comprising 121 assembly constituencies. A total of 1,314 candidates, including 1,192 men and 122 women, are contesting in this phase.
According to the ECI, 3,75,13,302 voters, including 1,98,35,325 men, 1,76,77,219 women and 758 third gender voters, will decide the result.
Voting is taking place at 45,341 polling stations, of which 36,733 are in rural areas and 8,608 are in urban areas. Of these, 320 model stations, 926 women managed and 107 disabled managed booths have been made. All polling stations are under webcasting monitoring to ensure transparency. While general polling will continue till 6 pm, polling in six Naxal-affected constituencies will end at 5 pm
–IANS
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