The second of the five-phase polling for Bihar assembly polls would be held on Friday amidst tight security. In this phase, spread over six districts in Magadh region of Central Bihar, voters in 32 constituencies will exercise their franchise.
Given the threat of Naxal violence in these districts, the Election Commission has cut short the time for voting by one to two hours in as many as 23 constituencies following threat perception. Only 9 out of the 32 seats would see voting from 7 am to 5 pm; 12 constituencies would witness polling till 4 <g data-gr-id="19">pm,</g> while 11 would have <g data-gr-id="17">balloting</g> till 3 pm.
Over one lakh jawans of central <g data-gr-id="21">para military</g> forces have been employed to ensure trouble
free polls. A total of 124 candidates <g data-gr-id="15">are</g> in the fray in ten assembly segments of the district. A galaxy of heavyweights are in the fray from the district but all eyes are on the high profile Imamganj assembly segment where Hindustan <g data-gr-id="23">Awam</g> Morcha leader and former CM Jitanram Manjhi is pitted against JD(U) leader and Speaker of the outgoing state legislative assembly Uday Narayan Choudhry.