Patna: The first phase of the Bihar panchayat election began on Friday as voting for 4,647 posts are being held in 12 blocks spread over 10 districts in the state amid tight security.
Election officials have said that 14,000 people have been deployed at 2,119 polling stations in Kaimur, Rohtas, Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, Munger, Jamui and Banka where both electronic voting machines (EVMs) and ballot papers will be used for voting.
The last panchayat elections were held five years ago in 10 phases, which had nearly 6.44 crore electors. This time, the number of electors and panchayat bodies have been reduced due to the reorganisation of urban bodies, in which 315 panchayats lost their existence and 186 panchayats were partially hit.
