Fifth phase of Bihar polls, acid test for Nitish

Amid tight security, the fifth and penultimate phase of voting in the elections to the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly started on Tuesday at 7 am and would continue till 5 pm. In some constituencies in Naxalite-affected areas, however, voting will end at 4 pm and at 3 pm in some others. In all, 81.26 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the 35 constituencies that are located in the eight districts of Sheikhpura, Patna, Bhojpur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya and Nawada.