Millions queue to vote in Bihar under Covid gloom

Millions of Indians turned out to cast ballots in a state election in the world's biggest vote since the coronavirus emerged, with booths packed out and many ignoring government advice on wearing masks and social distancing. Some 70 million are eligible to vote in Bihar governed by an alliance that includes BJP, which has promised a free vaccine for every person in the state if it wins. Voting in Bihar has been split across three days -- Wednesday, November 3 and November 7 -- to reduce crowding at booths. Opinion polls indicate disquiet with the incumbent regime, particularly Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the JDU, who has been in power for most of the past 15 years, over perceptions he has not done enough to lift the state out of poverty.