Patna: Barring a few minor skirmishes, polling for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections in 121 of 243 constituencies remained by and large peaceful.

At 8.15 pm, according to the Election Commission, the voter turnout recorded was 64.66%, which surpassed the cumulative turnout for a Bihar Assembly election since 1951-52 polls. This figure would further increase as 1,570 presiding officers are yet to update the figures on ECINet.

The previous highest of 62.57% was in 2000 for the entire Assembly polls. The lowest was in 1951-52 when 42.6% was the turnout. For Lok Sabha polls, the highest was 64.6% in 1998 while the lowest was 40.35% in 1951-52.

Those who voted included Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former CMs Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, Mahagatbandhan CM face Tejashwi Yadav, Bih

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