Assam records 65% voter turnout in Phase I

The fate of 485 candidates was sealed in electronic voting machines (EVMs) today in the first phase of polls in Assam. The state recorded 65 per cent polling during the day that was by and large peaceful.

Barring a few sporadic incidents, there was no report of violence, even though organisations like the Ulfa and Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) had earlier issued diktats asking voters to boycott the polls. The polling process began at 7.00 am and ended around 3.00 in the evening. While 62 constituencies went for polls across 13 districts today, the remaining 64 will go for polls on April 11.

Political heavyweights like Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet colleagues, Gautam Roy, Nurzamal Sarkar, Ajanta Neog, Bharat Chandra Narah, Prithivi Majhi, Pradyut Bordoloi, faced the ballots today.

Gogoi is contesting from Titabar constituency in Upper Assam for the third time in a row. “Definitely the prospect of the party (Congress) is very very bright. We are confident to form the next government,” said Gogoi to reporters after stepping out of the polling booth. He was accompanied by his wife and son.

Stalwarts of Assam’s main opposition party, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), who were in the fray today were – Brindabon Goswami from Tezpur, Padma Hazarika from Sootea, Atul Bora from Bokakhat and Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee from Dhekiajuli. BJP’s state president, Ranjit Dutta, too was in the fray from Bihali constituency.

The Congress and the BJP were the only two parties to have fielded candidates in all the 62 constituencies in the first phase of polls. In addition to 157 independent candidates, there were 51 nominees from Assam’s main opposition party, AGP. Also, in the fray was Maulana Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which has a good following in Muslim dominated districts of the state.