Assembly election: 65 per cent polling in Assam

Guwahati, Apr 11: An estimated 65 per cent of voters in Assam today (Apr 11) exercised their franchise in the second and last phase of assembly polls in 64 assembly constituencies amid sporadic incidents of violence.

The polling percentage was expected to go up as voters who already entered the booths were allowed to exercise their franchise even after the end of polling at 3 pm, election commission sources said.

The total number of voters in this phase was 96,77,113 and polling was held in 14 central and lower Assam districts.

Polling was disrupted for a brief period at a booth (55) in Katirihara under Jaleswar constituency with police firing in the air to disperse a group of people who resorted to violence when the presiding officer asked them to produce identity cards, the sources said.

EVM malfunctioning was reported from a booth at Nalbari under Goalpara (West)assembly constituencies.

Polling was cancelled in four polling stations under Rangiya assembly constituency in Kamrup (Rural) district after police fired two rounds in the air to disperse agitated voters protesting against alleged high-handedness of security forces.

Incidents of violence, including clashes between rival political parties, were reported from Mazbat, Jagiroad, Sipajhar and Samaguri.

Fourteen NDFB (pro-talk) cadres from a designated camp in Baksa district cast their votes through postal ballots.

Among the prominent candidates in the fray were former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah, Forest and Tourism Minister Rockybul Hussain, Transport Minister Chandan Brahma, Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma and AGP president Chandramohan Patowary.

Polling was held in the districts of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Barpeta, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Nalbari, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, Darrang, Morigaon and Nagaon.

Peaceful polling for 62 assembly seats was held in the first phase on April 4 which recorded a high voter turnout of nearly 74 per cent.

PTI