Ranchi: An estimated 10.48 per cent of the total 45,64,681 voters exercised their franchise till 9 am in the final phase of polling for the three Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand on Sunday, an Election Commission official said. The electorate also include 22,00,119 female and 21 third gender voters. There are a total 42 candidates in the three seats, including former chief minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren who is contesting from the Dumka seat. The other two constituencies where polling is being held are Rajmahal and Godda. A large number of women and first time voters were seen in queues before the booths as the polling began at 7 am. Polling will end at 4 pm. Elderly voters were seen escorted by their relatives to the booth to help them cast their votes.

Patna: An estimated 8.08 per cent of the 1,52,52,608 voters had exercised their franchise in the eight Lok Sabha seats in Bihar on Sunday till 9 am, an official said. Altogether 157 candidates including four Union Ministers are in the fray in the seventh and final phase of polling in Bihar. Polling is currently underway in eight Lok Sabha constituencies - Nalanda, Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Ara, Buxar, Jehanabad, Sasaram and Karakat .