PATNA: Campaigning ended on Tuesday for the second of seven-phase Lok Sabha polls in Bihar covering 5 of the 40 seats in the state. In this phase, the polls will be held in the Bhagalpur, Banka, Katihar, Kishanganj and Purnea constituencies.
The first phase of polls for 4 seats was held on April 11 in Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Aurangabad parliamentary constituencies.
The over two-week long campaigning saw canvassing by top leaders of the ruling NDA – BJP, JD-U and LJP – and the Opposition Alliance of RJD, Congress, RLSP, HAM and VIP.
Besides, the six Left parties, the BSP and Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party also hit the campaign trail.
The campaigning witnessed war of words, and was occasionally marred by personal attacks to score points.
Paramilitary security forces have been deployed at all polling booths and drones will be used for the first time for surveillance during polling, officials said.
More than 85 lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of 68 candidates in the second round of polling on Thursday.