97% turnout recorded in Ara-Buxar MLC bypoll

Ara/Buxar: An impressive voter turnout of over 97% was recorded on Tuesday in the Bihar legislative council by-election for the Ara-Buxar Local Authorities constituency, with polling largely remaining peaceful across 25 booths spread over Bhojpur and Buxar districts.The only disturbance reported during the day was an altercation between RJD candidate Sonu Kumar Rai and a zonal magistrate at the Ara Sadar block office polling centre in the morning. No official complaint regarding electoral malpractice was lodged by any party or candidate.Bhojpur district magistrate and electoral officer Tanai Sultania said, “While the voting percentage for male voters was 98%, the female voting percentage was 97%.”He said the constituency had 6,086 voters, including 3,254 women and 2,832 men with 14 polling booths in Bhojpur and 11 in Buxar.“To ensure free, fair and transparent polling, elaborate arrangements were made by the administration and police. Live webcasting from all booths was continuously monitored at district control rooms,” Tanai said.The counting of votes will take place at Government Girls Plus Two High School, Ara, from 8am on Thursday.Meanwhile, tension briefly erupted at the Ara Sadar polling centre when RJD candidate Sonu Kumar Rai demanded identity verification from a zonal magistrate.“Show me your I-card if you claim to be a magistrate. I am not an illiterate candidate,” Sonu said during the confrontation, which was later resolved after police intervention.