As polling for the Bihar elections began on Thursday, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh termed it a “festival of democracy”, expressing confidence in the National Democratic Alliance’s victory.

Lalan Singh also cast his vote at a polling station in Patna today.

“This is a festival of democracy. We must follow ‘Pehle matdaan, phir jal-paan’…NDA government in the leadership of Nitish Kumar will be formed in Bihar again,” Lalan Singh told reporters.

A voter turnout of 13.13 per cent was recorded till 9 am in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, according to the Election Commission of India.

The highest voter turnout of 15.27 per cent was recorded in Saharsa district of the state among all districts, while Lakhisarai recorded a sluggish turnout of 7 per cent.

See Full Page