Patna: The first of two phases of polling in the high-stakes Bihar Assembly election was conducted on Thursday with voters turning up in historic numbers.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the provisional voter turnout was 64.66%, the highest in the state’s history. ADVERTISEMENT

The highest turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in Bihar was recorded at 64.6% in 1998. For an Assembly poll in the state, the maximum was 62.57% in 2000.

Polling took place in 121 constituencies on Thursday. The second phase of voting will be held on November 11, and the results will be declared on November 14.

Voting was by and large peaceful. However, an attack on Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha and allegations by the RJD that electricity was being cut off in “strong booths” of the Mahagathban

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