Assam Election 2021 LIVE: 72.1% polling recorded till 6 pm, says ECI

Assam Election 2021 LIVE updates: Around 8,109,815 voters will decide the fate of 264 candidates which includes big shots like Chief Minister Sarbananada Sonowal

8:55 PM

BJP sensed defeat as its ally promises to give jobs to surrendered ultras in army: Kharge

The BJP-led alliance in Assam has already sensed defeat in the election and in a desperate bid, its constituent the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), has promised that surrendered cadres of militant bodies will be provided with jobs in the army and paramilitary forces, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge claimed on Saturday, according to PTI.

8:16 PM

Kanhaiya calls Modi 'biggest liar', compares Himanta to Kansa of Mahabharata

CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar hit out at BJP on Saturday calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "the biggest liar" and comparing the saffron party's top Assam leader Himanta Biswa Sarma with King Kansa, the tyrant ruler of Mathura in the Mahabharata, according to PTI.

 

The former JNU students union president termed Modi's statement in Bangladesh, where he is on a visit, about going to jail for that country's freedom as a "big lie".

7:39 PM

Assam records 72.46 per cent voter turnout in first phase of Assembly polls

Polling for 47 seats in the first phase of Assembly elections ended with a voter turnout of 72.46 per cent recorded as of 6. 52 pm, according to the Election Commission, according to ANI.

Rupohihat constituency witnessed the highest voting percentage at 83 per cent while Sootea constituency saw the lowest voting percentage at 64 per cent, according to the latest trends.

Bokakhat district reported the highest voter turnout at 80 per cent while Nazira reported the lowest voter turnout at 64 per cent.Polling had begun at 7 am today.

6:50 PM

Cong spearheaded propaganda against BJP in Assam: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said a lot of misgivings and doubts have been spread by the Congress to "poison" the minds of the people of Assam and the entire northeastern region against the BJP, but these were countered well by the saffron party, according to PTI.

 

He said seven years ago, the Congress had spread the propaganda that if the BJP comes to power in any of the northeastern states, it will start interfering with people's food habits and lifestyle, but "we have painstakingly intermingled with the people and identified with them to convince them that BJP was an organisation which treated all sections of society equally, without any bias or discrimination".

6:28 PM

COVID safety protocols maintained in polling stations; Assam voters happy

The fear of COVID looms large and Assam's voters stepped out of their homes with caution to exercise their franchise and they seemed satisfied with the facilities to check the spread of the virus in polling stations in the first of the three-phased election in 47 of the 126 assembly constituencies, according to PTI.

 

Besides, voters were happy with arrangements to take care of children while their mothers voted, and ferry people with disabilities to polling stations.

 

For 65-year old Amiya Gogoi of the Duliajan assembly constituency, not casting her vote due to the pandemic was not an option as she has sincerely voted in every election since she came to her marital home as a bride 45-years ago.

6:08 PM

Congress-AIUDF alliance country's enemy, Assam advanced under BJP: Sonowal

Slamming the Congress-AIUDF alliance as the country's "enemy", Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said if it is elected to power it will "endanger" Indians living in the state and strengthen illegal immigrants, according to PTI.

 

He expressed confidence that people will solidly back the BJP-led NDA in the polls due to its development and peace efforts.

 

He also played down speculation about the next chief minister if the BJP-led alliance retains power, saying the state government worked like "team Assam" in the last five years and the party's goal is to win the polls.

5:28 PM

BJP has acceded defeat in Assam, claims Kharge

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, claimed on Saturday that the BJP has acceded defeat in Assam and throughout the campaign, the ruling party tried to evade questions related to its performance in the last five years, according to IANS.

 

Addressing the media here, Kharge said that with the first phase of polling underway in Assam, clear signs of a landslide victory for the Congress are emerging from all parts of the state.

 

"The Congress has gone to the people with a vow to fulfil its 'five guarantees' which will be a gamechanger for the future of Assam and its people. We have received an overwhelming response from the people across all ages and geographies towards the vision and the will power that we have presented," the Congress leader said.

4:40 PM

Assam records a voter turnout of 47.10 per cent till 3 pm across 47 assembly constituencies

Assam on Saturday recorded a voter turnout of 47.10 per cent till 3 pm across 47 assembly constituencies in the first phase of the state assembly polls, according to the Election Commission (EC) said ANI.

 

The Biswanath constituency in the state has witnessed the highest voting percentage till now, while the Dibrugarh constituency witnessed the lowest voting percentage.

 

The first phase of polling for assembly elections in the states of West Bengal and Assam began at 7 am on Saturday and is currently underway.

3:30 PM

No impact of CAA-NRC on polls, people will vote BJP back to power: Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday asserted that people in the state are aware that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would not affect them and they will vote BJP back to power, according to ANI.

 

"We have worked for the people of Assam in the last five years. People are satisfied with us. We followed 'Sabka saath, sabka sabka vikaas and sabka vishwas," Sonowal told ANI.

2:42 PM

People want Congress back in Assam, says state party chief Ripun Bora

Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora on Saturday said that people want Congress in Assam where the polling for the phase of state Assembly polls is underway, according to PTI.

 

"The way the people of Gohpur have come out spontaneously, it is a clear singal that people want change and wants Congress this time," Bora said.

2:04 PM

Assam polls: Congress' Rockybul Hussain casts vote in Nagaon

Congress leader Rockybul Hussain on Saturday cast his vote in Amoni constituency of Assam's Nagaon district during the first phase of Assam assembly elections, ANI said.

 

Rockybul has been fielded as a Congress candidate from the Samaguri constituency.

1:20 PM

Assam election 2021: Gaurav Gogoi casts vote, says people will vote out politics of lies

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday said that he is confident that the people of Assam are going to vote out politics of lies and deceit and said his party will perform well in the state Assembly polls.

 

"I am confident that people are going to vote out politics of lies and deceit. They will vote out politics of those selling hate," Gogoi told ANI.

 

Gogoi cast his vote at a polling booth in the Jorhat district in the state. Read on...

11:50 AM

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Congress's Gaurav Gogoi among early voters in Assam

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Congress's Gaurav Gogoi among early voters in Assam

10:37 AM

Vote for progress, golden future of Assam: Priyanka Gandhi to people

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday urged the people to vote for progress and golden future of the state.

 

The Congress-led 'Mahajot' alliance is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Assam which is voting in three phases starting on Saturday. The counting of votes will be on May 2.

 

"Today, the first phase of polling is being held in Assam. I appeal to the people of Assam, especially the youth and my sisters, to go to the polling booths today and vote in large numbers," Priyanka Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

 

"Vote for progress and golden future of Assam," said the Congress general secretary, who has campaigned in the state.

10:20 AM

Assam is voting to protect its culture & traditions, says Congress

Assam is voting to protect its culture & traditions, Assam is voting to secure its basic rights, Assam is voting to true development, Assam is voting for Congress, says Congress party

10:05 AM

Assam election 2021: Polling starts for first phase; CM Sarbananda Sonowal, top Opposition in fray

Voting began at 7 am on Saturday for 47 seats in the first phase of the assembly elections in Assam to decide the fate of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and a host of ministers and opposition leaders, officials said.

 

Altogether 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray in the first phase, they said.

 

A total of 300 companies of security forces have been deployed in the first phase, in which people are voting at 11,537 polling stations across 12 districts of Upper Assam and the Northern Bank of Brahmaputra. Read on...

9:47 AM

Your vote will ensure the progress, development and prosperity of Assam, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Today is a glorious day when you get an opportunity to exercise your democratic right of casting your vote. Please do go out in large numbers. Your vote will ensure the progress, development and prosperity of Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam minister

8:57 AM

Assam polls: Stakes high for BJP, AGP in first phase today; Sonowal in fray

The stakes for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) are high in Assam where 47 seats of 126 Assembly constituencies across 34 districts will go for polling to the first of the three-phase elections on Saturday.

 

Polling will begin at 7 am today in 47 constituencies across 12 districts in Assam where the ruling BJP and Congress-AIUDF alliance are locked in a direct electoral contest.

 

In the first phase, a total of 264 candidates are in the fray on the 47 seats -- 42 from 11 districts of the Upper and northern region of the state and five seats from central Assam's Nagaon district.

8:27 AM

Assam election 2021 LIVE: Model polling booth at Jorhat district

8:19 AM

Assam polls: Voters follow physical distancing at polling station set up at a school in Majuli

7:57 AM

Assam election 2021: Call upon my young friends to vote, tweets PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to cast votes in record numbers as polling began in the morning for the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam.

 

"The first phase of elections begin in Assam. Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote.

 

"Today, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers," he tweeted.

7:51 AM

Assam election 2021: Voters turn out in large numbers in Rupahi, Nagaon District