Assam sees nearly 75 pc polling in second phase of assembly election

Assam recorded a voter turnout of 74.79 per cent till 7.30 pm on Thursday across 39 constituencies in 13 districts during the second phase of the state assembly polls, according to the Election Commission (EC).

New Delhi: Assam recorded a voter turnout of nearly 75 per cent in the second phase of polling, according to the latest figures from the Election Commission. The second phase election was held in 39 constituencies across 13 districts.

According to EC data, the voter turnout was 74.79 per cent at 7.30 pm. The polling ended at 6 pm.

Assam sees nearly 75 pc polling in second phase of assembly election

Congress leader Sushmita Dev, All India United Democratic Front president Badruddin Ajmal and former Minister of State (MoS) for Railways Rajen Gohain were among those who cast their ballot in the second phase of polls.

Constituency wise voting turnout

In the second phase, the fate of several ministers, including Fisheries Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, MoS for Health and Family Welfare Piyush Hazarika, Irrigation Minister Bhabesh Kalita and Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, will be decided.

Constituency wise voting turnout

Suklabaidya is contesting from Dholai for the seventh time on a BJP ticket, Hazarika from Jagiroad and Kalita from Rangia.

Former Congress minister Gautam Roy is contesting from Katigorah on a BJP ticket, while former Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, who resigned from the BJP after he was denied a ticket and was subsequently expelled from the party, is contesting as an Independent candidate from Silchar.

Of the 39 seats, 15 falls in southern Assam's Barak Valley region, comprising three districts -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakhandhi -- which are mostly dominated by Bengali-speaking people.

In 2016, the BJP had bagged eight of these seats, while the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won four seats and the Congress three

The voters and poll officials have been directed to strictly follow all the Covid-19 protocols. The election officials said that to avoid crowding, the number of voters for every booth has been brought down to a maximum of 1,000. As a result, the number of polling booths has been augmented by 34.71 per cent to 33,530 in the entire state from 24,890 in 2016.

Of the three-phase elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly, the third and final phase of polling will be held in 40 seats on April 6. Nearly 80 per cent of 81,09,815 voters cast their votes on March 27 in the first phase of polling in 47 constituencies. The results will be declared on May 2.
(With inputs from agency)