Assam records 78 pc turnout

Bijay Sankar Bora

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Tribune News Service

Guwahati, April 4

Over 78 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of Assam Assembly election held today in 65 Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs) — 50 in Brahmaputra Valley and the rest in Barak Valley.

Dr Lakshmanan, polling official, said the poll percentage was recorded at 78.06 per cent at 5 pm. The polling, which began at 7 am and concluded at 5 pm, remained by and large peaceful barring a few stray incidents of poll-related violence. The official said the poll percentage was likely to cross the 80 per cent mark. Chabua LAC in Dibrugarh district recorded highest polling of over 85 per cent, while Sarupathar LAC in Golaghat district recorded the lowest at 67 per cent.

Buoyed by heavy polling, state BJP chief and party’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal exuded confidence in emerging victorious and form the next government in the state.

Chief Minister and Congress veteran Tarun Gogoi asserted that his party would do well in the first phase and outsmart the arch rival BJP-AGP alliance in the second phase election on April 11.

A total of 95,11,732 were expected to exercise their franchise at 12,190 polling stations in the first phase, which was held under tight security through deployment of 535 companies of paramilitary forces, including 433 companies of Central paramilitary forces. All polling stations in rural areas and 82 per cent polling stations in urban areas were guarded by half a section of paramilitary force personnel per polling station.

There were 49,16,015 male voters and 45,95,712 female voters for the first phase polling where 539 candidates, including 43 women, were in the fray. Some of the prominent candidates in first phase polling were Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi (Titabor LAC), BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal (Majuli LAC), AGP president Atul Bora (Bokakhat LAC), former Union Minister and Congress candidate Paban Singh Ghatowar (Moran LAC).

A total of 55,912 presiding officers and polling officials were engaged for the first phase. In addition to vehicles of different types, 35 bullock carts and 144 boats were used to carry polling materials and officials to remote polling stations.