Bihar Assembly polls: 57% turnout in first phase
Polling remained peaceful in the state which will witness five-phased polling to elect a new assembly.
The battle for Bihar is being fought mainly between the the BJP-led NDA and the 'grand alliance' of the ruling Janata Dal(U), Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress.
Of the 49 seats, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) had won 29 in 2010, but as a partner of the BJP which is now its main rival.This time, the JD(U) is contesting 24 of the 49 seats in the first phase. Lalu Prasad's RJD is conesting 17 and the Congress is contesting eight.
On the other hand, the BJP is contesting 27 seats in the first phase and ally Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP is contesting 13. The LJP has high stakes in this phase - it holds four of this region's eight Lok Sabha seats. Other BJP allies are contesting the nine other seats.
While Nitish Kumar is seeking a third straight term as chief minister, the BJP is seeking votes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his development agenda.
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