Patna, June 1 (Reporter) An estimated 33.65 percent of more than 1.62 crore electorate exercised their franchise amid tight security arrangements till 1 pm in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections on eight seats in Bihar, sources at the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, said. Highest polliing of 40.78 was recorded in Pataliputra followed by Karakat 39.53, Buxar 37.79, Sasaram 37.12, Jehanabad 36.66, Tarah 33.07, Nalanda 32.94 and Patna Sahib 29.22 percent. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere so far where polling was in progress, sources added. Star candidates whose fates would be decided are Union Minister R K Singh, former Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Upendra Kushwaha, Ram Kripal Yadav, Misa Bharti and Pawan Singh. Polling began at 7 am and it would continue till 6 pm. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi , RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, and daughter Rohini Acharya cast their votes in Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. Governor Arlekar and several other prominent leaders have appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, of these seats, BJP had won five seats while its ally JD(U) had bagged three seats. INDIA block comprising RJD and Congress as major partners, had then contested as Grand Alliance and drawn blank. A total of 1,62,04,594 electorate including 85,01,620 males and 77,02,559 females are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide fate of 134 candidates in eight seats during seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections. Maximum 29 candidates are contesting from Nalanda seat while minimum 10 candidates are contesting from Sasaram seat. Out of total 16, 634 booths, all women managed booths are 146 and model booths are 117. Arrangements for webcasting have been made at 7,878 booths. Polling for six of seven phased Lok Sabha elections in Bihar were earlier held on 32 seats. Counting of votes would be taken up on June 4...////...