Patna: More than 42 percent of the over three lakh electors had cast their votes by 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the bypoll for the Rupauli assembly seat in Bihar, according to an official statement.

Voting commenced at 7 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m.

This bypoll became necessary following the resignation of the incumbent MLA, Bima Bharti. Bharti, who had previously secured the seat multiple times for JD(U), resigned from the party to contest the Lok Sabha elections on an RJD ticket. Despite her defeat in the parliamentary elections, she is now contesting the bypoll as an RJD candidate.

"A voter turnout of 42.19 per cent was recorded till 3 pm," an Election Official said.

With over three lakh voters eligible to participate, the bypoll will determine the political fate of 11 candidates.

The JD(U) has nominated Kaladhar Prasad Mandal, who previously contested the 2020 assembly elections from this seat as an independent candidate.

Former MLA Shankar Singh, who recently left the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, is also competing in this bypoll as an independent candidate. 

(with inputs from agencies)