57 per cent turnout in 1st phase, women voters outnumber men

While it was 59.5 <g data-gr-id="27">per cent</g> turnout for women on Monday, the male turnout stood at 54.5 per cent, Nayak, accompanied by Additional Chief Electoral Officer R <g data-gr-id="26">Lakhmanan</g>, said.

Though, both the fronts – BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance – have claimed the victory of their respective candidates on 49 seats, the rise in voting percentage may spring surprises when the results are announced on November 8.

According to political experts, the increase in voting percentage can be read through the lens of development, which may go in favour of both the fronts as BJP is projecting PM Modi as their development mascot while incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of development for the Mahagadbandhan. “The results would be surprising as most of the constituencies that vote in the opening round are JD(U) strongholds. The party had won 29 seats out of 49 when it was in alliance with the BJP in 2010. But, this time the JD(U) is in the fray with totally different alignment as both the friends have become arch rivals,” said a senior political commentator.

The JD(U) is contesting 24 seats in the first phase under the new alignment and will be keen to know if the party, steered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been able to attract key segments, including extremely backward classes (EBCs), Mahadalits and most importantly, the Yadavs, which seems going in favour of the grand alliance.

The RJD, which has fielded 17 candidates here, had won only four seats last time but gained ground by winning two of the 8 Lok Sabha segments, wresting Banka and Bhagalpur from BJP in 2014.

On the other side, PM Modi has led the NDA charge by addressing a string of rallies leading to the first phase in which the BJP has fielded 27 candidates — it won 13 seats in this segment in 2010 — followed by Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP with 13.