PATNA: The byelection to the Kurhani assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur district passed off peacefully on Monday with only 58% (57.9% ) of voters exercising their franchise, the election commission said. The results would be declared on Thursday.
Incidentally, it was the lowest voting percentage recorded in the last three elections -- 64.19% in 2020 and 65.13% in 2015 -- which, in effect, has turned out to be a puzzle for poll pundits, who claim that higher voting percentage is an advantage for the opposition candidate.
The bypoll was necessitated due to the disqualification of the sitting MLA Anil Kumar Sahani from the ruling RJD.
The EC communique also said that 325 polling booths were set up in 184 places in the constituency that had 1.64 lakh male voters and 1.46 lakh female voters, out of the 3.11 lakh eligible population. Besides, immaculate security arrangements had been made for free, fair and peaceful exercise of the franchise. The communique added that 15 complaints were received, and also duly attended to.
Women voters, including the aged ones, showed interest in polling and also turned up to cast their votes, despite no woman candidate among the 13 candidates in fray.
The main electoral battle was between three-time MLA Manoj Kumar Kushwaha from the JD (U) and one-time MLA Kedar Prasad Gupta of the BJP. The AIMIM and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidates were also in the contest to evaluate their fate. If the AIMIM candidate was feared to chip away the Muslim votes harming the interest of the JD(U) nominee, the VIP nominee was a headache for the BJP.
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