Supaul District Sees Robust Voter Participation in Final Phase
The second and final phase of elections concluded peacefully in Supaul district on Tuesday, with the region recording a substantial voter turnout ranging between 60% and 71% across its five assembly constituencies. The electoral exercise, which saw enthusiastic participation from first-time voters, locked the fates of 48 candidates in electronic voting machines.
Polling Statistics and Infrastructure
Election authorities established 1,880 polling booths across the district to accommodate 15,39,242 registered voters. The electoral roll included 8,05,715 male voters and 7,34,433 female voters, demonstrating nearly balanced gender representation in the democratic process.
To ensure transparency and security in the voting process, the administration equipped all vehicles transporting EVMs and VVPAT machines with GPS tracking systems. This technological intervention allowed real-time monitoring of the sensitive election materials throughout their movement across the district.
Peaceful Polling with Minor Technical Glitch
The voting process remained largely peaceful across Supaul district, with only one reported technical disruption at booth number 154 in the Chhatapur segment. The issue emerged due to a malfunction in an Electronic Voting Machine, but the administration responded promptly by replacing the defective unit.
Armed forces provided comprehensive security coverage at all polling stations, ensuring free and fair elections throughout the five assembly segments. Their presence helped maintain order and allowed voters to cast their ballots without intimidation or interference.
Voter Turnout Trends and Enthusiasm
Voter participation showed consistent growth throughout the day, with initial tallies at 3 PM showing 60% turnout that climbed to 70.7% by 5 PM. The Chhatapur segment emerged as the frontrunner with the highest participation rate of 64.48%.
Even as evening approached, voters remained enthusiastic with queues visible until 6 PM, suggesting the final turnout could reach 71% or higher. Election officials noted the particularly energetic participation of first-time voters across all assembly segments.
Key Contests and Political Landscape
The National Democratic Alliance currently holds all five seats in Supaul district and has mounted an extensive campaign to retain its dominance in the Kosi region. The ruling coalition faces determined challenges from candidates fielded by the INDIA bloc in each constituency.
The key contests feature:
- Chhatapur: BJP's Neeraj Kumar Bablu vs RJD's Bipin Kumar Singh
- Nirmali: Anirudh Yadav vs RJD's Baidyanath Mahaton
- Pipra: Ramvilash Kamat vs CPI(ML)'s Anil Kumar
- Supaul: JD(U) veteran Bijendra Prasad Yadav vs Congress's Mitraullah Rahmani
- Triveniganj: JD(U)'s fresh candidate Sonam Rani vs RJD's Santosh Sardar
First-Time Voters: The Potential Game Changers
A significant addition of 34,001 new voters across the five segments could play a decisive role in determining the outcomes. The distribution of first-time voters includes:
- Nirmali: 6,829 new voters
- Pipra: 6,316 new voters
- Supaul: 6,957 new voters
- Triveniganj: 6,412 new voters
- Chhatapur: 7,487 new voters
These young electors displayed remarkable enthusiasm throughout the voting process, with many expressing their eagerness to participate in shaping their region's political future. Their collective voice could potentially tilt the balance in what appears to be closely contested elections across all five assembly segments.
As the election machinery now shifts to counting preparations, all eyes remain on Supaul district where the NDA's dominance faces its most significant challenge from the united opposition INDIA bloc.
