Wednesday, November 16 2005 09:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Polling began this morning (Nov 16, 2005) in 15 of Bihar's 243 assembly constituencies, in four Naxalite-hit districts under heavy security with Indian Airforce helicopters maintaining aerial surveillance and borders with Nepal sealed.

Nearly 32,000 security personnel, including about 15,900 central forces, have been deployed at 3,415 booths and for patrolling in these constituencies in North Bihar's East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi and Madhubani districts, state's Home Secretary H C Sirohi told sources.

An electorate of little over 31.74 lakh will decide the fate of 119 candidates, including two ministers in the erstwhile Rabri Devi Government, Rama Devi of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) (Motihari) and Vishwamo Ban Sharma of Congress (Chanpatia).

"Since polling is being held in these constituencies in the backdrop of Sunday night's (Nov 13, 2005) Naxalite onslaught in Jehanabad, we are leaving nothing to chance," Sirohi said, adding, "Central para-military forces were patrolling the skies and rivers and mounted police have been pressed into service in sensitive areas."

While National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies Janata Dal - United (JD-U) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fielded candidates in eight and seven seats respectively, Secular Democratic Front partners RJD, Congress and Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) have put up nominees in ten, five and two seats respectively.

CPI-M nominees are engaged in friendly contests with RJD at Sugauli and Congress at BISFI.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and CPI are contesting 13 and two seats respectively.

Polling in Lauria, Chanpatia, Bettiah, Nautan, Sugauli, Motihari, Harsiddhi, Govindganj, Runnisaidpur, Belsand, Sitamarhi, Bisfi, Madhubani, Pandaul and Jhanjharpur was earlier scheduled for November 13 but deferred till today by the Election Commission for security reasons.