Inclement weather keeps away voters

Guwahati, Apr 10: An estimated 11.92 per cent voter turnout of an eight million strong electorate was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the second phase of Asom elections which began at 0700 hrs today.

However, rains at several places kept voters away from polling booths.

Altogether 61 constituencies, mostly in Lower Asom, the northern banks of the Brahmaputra and the Hills districts, are going to the polls in this phase. The first phase was held on April three.

The Election Commission has deployed about 42,000 security and police personnel for the phase. Security had been beefed up in many areas following reports of clashes from various poll-bound places.

A teacher was killed in Kokrajhar East constituency last night and a CRPF jawan was reportedly abducted by unknown persons in Karbi Anglong district today.

Paramilitary forces had been rushed to Sootea constituency after a clash between Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Congress workers was reported there last night.

Reports also said Barama constituency AGP candidate Prabin Boro was allegedly harassed by rival candidate's supporters on poll eve.

Tension brewed in various other places as minor tiffs between rival groups were reported. However, no major incident has been reported so far.

Besides the Bodoland Territorial Area, special security arrangements have also been made in the hill district of Karbi Anglong. The proscribed KNLF had called for a poll boycott in the district.

The low turnout till now has been blamed at the inclement weather. Sporadic showers were reported from many places even as the sky remained overcast throughout the state.

So far, Tezpur, which witnessed tension yesterday following Congress workers' alleged attack on AGP chief's car and leaders, has recorded the highest turnout with 30.31 per cent. Chapaguri constituency has seen the lowest turnout of 0.03 per cent till now.

A total of 482 candidates - including 31 women- are in the fray in the polls to the 126-member state Assembly. An 82.27 lakh strong electorate, including 3.98 lakh women voters, would choose their representatives.

As many as 8,995 polling booths are in place for the second phase.

Important candidates in the run for this phase include former Chief Minister and AGP(P) president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AGP president Brindabon Goswami, also the party's Chief Ministerial candidate, Congress leader Bhumidhar Barman, AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal, besides a host of Bodo and minority leaders.

UNI