Over 66% cast votes in peaceful Assam polls first phase

Peaceful polling for Assam Assembly?s first phase election on Monday registered voter turnout of 66.24 per cent as fate of 485 candidates was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The voter turnout figure is expected to be revised upward as people were queued before polling stations even at the end of formal polling time at 3 pm.

The accurate percentage would be available later when polling in all polling stations is complete and final reports compiled.

Lakhimpur Assembly constituency saw the highest voter turnout at 77 per cent, while the lowest figures were recorded at Haflong and Katlichera Assembly constituencies at 55 per cent.

The polling was mostly incident-free, except a few instances of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The EVMs problems mostly pertained to low battery and polling started after the batteries were replaced.

Sunshine and rains greeted voters in different parts of the 13 districts that went to the polls in the first phase.

Rain in some parts of eastern and northern Assam was a bit of dampener, though polling picked up later.

No untoward incident has been reported from any part.

The total electorate strength for the first phase had stood at 85,09,010 voters, comprising 43,91,889 male and 41,17,121 female.

The Assam assembly has 126 seats, with the remaining constituencies going to the polls on April 11.

The fate of 485 candidates, including 38 female, was sealed in the EVMs in the first phase.

Polling was held in 11,264 polling stations in 7743 locations. Of these, 1350 were covered by video or still photo surveillance.

As many as 2093 polling stations were identified as hyper-sensitive and 2985 as sensitive. Another 817 hamlets were identified as vulnerable.

Electorate-wise, the largest constituency was Jonai with 2,32,669 voters and the smallest was Thowra with 94,728 voters.

There was highest number of 25 candidates contesting in Karimganj (South) constituency, while lowest three candidates were in fray in Baithalangso constituency.

Among the high-profile candidates whose fate was sealed are Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, BJP state president Ranjit Dutta, former AGP chief Brindabon Goswami, Assembly Speaker TB Rai and several state Cabinet ministers.