An estimated 18 to 20 per cent voters of the 1.07 crore electorate exercised their franchise in 47 constituencies spread over eight districts till 1100 am in the first phase poll in Bihar on Thursday amid reports of boycott at some booths.
A report from Kishnganj said voters boycotted polling at booth no 104 in Bahadurganj Assembly constituency, booth no 146 at Kochadhaman, while a presiding officer was alleged to have influenced a voter to cast the vote in favour of a candidate in Kishangan Assembly segment prompting boycott of the poll by locals for sometime.
Reports of election boycott were also received from a couple of booths in Alamnagar, Jokihat, Laukaha constituencies over the issue of "non-development". In some areas, voters assembled on road, held demonstration and shouted slogans on "poor development" of their area, the reports said.
Polling was disrupted for sometime at booth no 165 at Chhatapur under Birpue Assembly segment in Supaul district following an accidental firing by a security person. Nobody was injured.
Altogether 50 persons have so far been taken into custody for allegedly engaging in electoral malpractices from different places in Katihar, Kishanganj, Madhepura and Sahrsa districts, official sources said.