Voters waiting to cast ballots — BBC ALIPUR, Nov 06 (BBC): Brisk voting was being reported in the eastern Indian state of Bihar where more than 74 million people are eligible to vote in a crucial election that will be a precursor to several key state polls.
Voters were casting their ballots for 243 seats in a two-phase election to choose the next state government. Counting of votes is scheduled for 14 November.
The election comes after a controversial revision of electoral rolls that the opposition alleged would exclude genuine voters and give an edge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP and India's Election Commission have denied these allegations.
Long queues were witnessed through the day outside the polling stations in all the 18 districts where voting was being held on Thursday. The second and final day of voting would be 11 November.
In hundreds of polling booths, people could be seen arriving in electric three-wheelers arranged by the district administration, especially for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
In Alipur district, a 70-year-old woman was carried on a cot to a polling centre by her family members. When reporters asked her for comments, she could hardly speak. Her relatives said she was unwell but still wanted to make sure that her vote counted.
Some polling stations were decorated with balloons and makeshift tents were arranged outside for voters to rest while they waited for their turn.
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