Assam assembly election: 78% voter turnout in first phase

Altogether, 65 constituencies in the state went to the polls

Assam today witnessed a high voter turnout of 78.06% in its first phase of polling where stakes were high for both Congress and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). 
 

Altogether 65 constituencies of the state, spread across Upper Assam Barak Valley (South Assam) and hill districts, today went to polls to choose their respective members for the 14th state legislative assembly. Around 539 candidates were in fray in today phase of poll. 
 

Stakes are high for the BJP as Assam is the only state the party is pinning its hopes on forming government in 2016. For the Congress, losing Assam to BJP would further demoralise the party. Both Upper and Barak Valley, which voted today, are crucial for Congress as well as for BJP as these two regions would decisively determine the chances of either party on government formation. 

Though Upper Assam had always been a Congress’ bastion, riding on ‘Modi wave’ BJP made good inroads in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and almost swept the region. Till then BJP, which just had five seats in the 126-member state assembly, was just another party in the state’s political landscape.  The spectacular 2014 performance brought it onto the centre stage of Assam politics. Today it is a strong force to even challenge the entrenched Congress. 

Barak Valley was swept by the Congress in 2011 and the party would like a repeat performance this year too to brighten up its chances of government formation. However, with assuring citizenship to the Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, the BJP is banking high on the Hindu votes.

Barak Valley, which consists of three districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj are Bengali speaking with the latter two districts Muslim dominated.  Congress is also wary of the rise of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), headed by cleric Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal, as it has gained good ground amongst Bengali speaking Muslims. 

The high-profile candidates whose fates were sealed today in voting machines are incumbent chief minister, Tarun Gogoi (Titabar constituency), BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbanada Sonwal (Majuli), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora (Bokakhat).

“Yes people want parivartan (change). And people will vote for us because we brought parivartan in the state and they know only we can bring so in future,” said Tarun Gogoi told reporters after casting his vote in Jorhat. 

Polling process begun at 7 am in the morning and concluded at 5pm. By and large the election today was peaceful as no major incident of violence or untoward activity had been reported from any of the constituencies. The second and last phase is scheduled on April 11.