नवीनतम
Assam sees nearly 76% voter turnout by 3 pm
GUWAHATI: [Maha Media]: Polling in the Assam Assembly elections witnessed strong participation, with voter turnout reaching 75.91 per cent by 3 pm on Thursday, despite overcast conditions and rainfall in several areas.
Voting began at 7 am for the 126-member Assembly and will continue until 5 pm. The turnout indicates robust engagement among the state’s over 2.5 crore voters. In comparison, the 2021 elections, held in three phases, recorded an overall turnout of around 82 per cent.
The election is largely a contest between the BJP-led NDA, which is aiming for a third consecutive term, and the Congress-led opposition alliance seeking to regain power after a decade.
Among constituencies, Chamaria in Kamrup district recorded the highest turnout at 84.43 per cent, while New Guwahati saw the lowest at 60.57 per cent, officials said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, contesting from Jalukbari, cast his vote along with his family after offering prayers at the Kamakhya Devi Temple and Doul Govinda Temple.
State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi also voted in Jorhat, accompanied by his mother. Other prominent leaders who exercised their franchise include Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Union minister Pabitra Margherita, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi.
Several state ministers, including Ranoj Pegu, Ajanta Neog, Ranjeet Kumar Das, Bimal Bora, Prashanta Phukan, and Jayanta Malla Baruah, also cast their votes.
Polling is being conducted at 31,490 stations across 35 districts, with 722 candidates in the fray. This is the first Assembly election after the 2023 delimitation exercise that redrew constituency boundaries.
Meanwhile, isolated incidents of violence were reported in parts of the state, including Tamulpur and Sivasagar, leading to the detention of seven individuals. Minor clashes were also reported at some polling stations due to heavy crowds and disputes among voters, though officials said the situation was quickly brought under control and voting continued without disruption.
The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. Other parties and alliances, including the AIUDF, AGP, BPF, and several regional outfits, are also contesting, along with a significant number of independent candidates.
