The crucial fifth phase Lok Sabha elections in Bihar tomorrow will decide the fate of LJP President Ramvilas Paswan and former state chief minister Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi.
Of the seven constituencies going to the polls, the two most important are Hajipur (SC) and Saran, both situated in the Gangetic plains of Bihar, from where Ramvilas Paswan and Rabri Devi are contesting. About 118 candidates are in the fray.
The other five seats are Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Maharajganj and Ujiyarpur. Polling would also be held in Chiraiya and Maharajganj Assembly constituencies.
After the end of this round of election, polling will be completed in 34 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Five of the seven LS seats had been won by JD (U) in 2009, while Saran and Maharajganj had gone to RJD.
Over 1.08 crore electorate are eligible to cast their votes in 9,804 polling stations amid elaborate security arrangements. The Indo-Nepal border has been sealed for the purpose.
Elaborate security measures have been taken for the smooth conduct of the polls. Two helicopters will be deployed for air surveillance and 66,211 jawans will be put on duty to man the polling stations, state chief secretary A K Sinha said.
About 145 companies of the central paramilitary forces will also be put on duty, besides seven units of the mounted police, 36 motor boats, adequate number of motorized boats and 375 motorcycles for patrolling in riverine areas.