73.32% Voters Seal Fates of 50 Candidates In Phase-II

GUWAHATI: The political fates of 50 candidates were sealed in EVMs and VVPATs in a largely peaceful polling across 8,992 polling stations in Assam during the second phase on Thursday. As per data of the State Election Department, Assam, 73.32 percent of the electorate cast their votes till 5 pm in the five Parliamentary constituencies across the State. Favourable weather condition is believed to have encouraged the large turnout. Polling was going on at several polling stations even after 5 pm and the total percentage of voters exercising their franchise is likely to go up. There were, however, a few reports of lawlessness and EVMs malfunctioning besides the death of a voter at a polling station in Mangaldoi. Chief Electoral Officer MC Sahu told this newspaper, “We’re now collecting all reports from the Returning Officers. The final turnout will be clear only after their reports are collected.”

Reports of EVM replacement (following malfunctioning of the machines) came in from many polling stations including those at Sonaibibi Balika Vidyalaya at Jamunamukh, Hojai Bishnupur LP School, Karimganj MMMC Balika Vidyalaya, Puranigudam JB School. Meanwhile, security personnel had to restore peace following stray incidents of lawlessness at Lahorighat Balidanga High School and Batia LP School in Karimganj besides a few other polling stations. There is also a report of a polling official at Dalgaon — under Mangaldoi Parliamentary seat — persuading an elderly voter to cast her vote in favour of a particular political party.

Till 5 pm, while 71.41% of electorate cast their votes in Karimganj; 71.79% exercised their franchise in Silchar. The percentage of electorate that cast their votes in the other three seats are: Autonomous District – Diphu (69.51%); Mangaldoi (75.07%); and Nowgong (75.71%). During the 2014 general elections, 76.07% had cast their votes in Karimganj, 75.71% in Silchar; 77.39% in Autonomous District (Diphu); 81.50% in Mangaldoi; and 80.89% in Nowgong. During the last polls, the overall polling across the 14 constituencies in Assam was 80.21 per cent.

Altogether 69,10,592 electorates got the chance to exercise their franchise across 8,992 polling stations during this phase. Of them, 35,54,460 are male voters while 33,55,952 are female, and 180 are third-gender voters.

Webcasting was carried out in 621 polling stations so that Election Commission personnel are able to directly monitor the ongoing voting process. Altogether 35,968 polling personnel were involved for smooth conduct of the second phase. During the elections, 544 micro observers, six general observers, five expenditure observers, and three police observers were on duty. Altogether 137 flying squad teams, 127 static surveillance teams, 105 video surveillance teams also monitored the second-phase polls in the State.

A total of 50 candidates including three women and 18 Independents contested during this phase. In Karimganj, 14 candidates are in the poll fray, while there are 13 candidates in Silchar, 11 in Mangaldoi, seven in Nagaon, and five in Autonomous District (Diphu).

After casting her vote, sitting MP and the Congress candidate for Silchar seat, Sushmita Dev — told media persons, “I’ll win. My power is in the party manifesto as Congress never gives false promises.”

Dr Rajdeep Roy, BJP candidate for the Silchar seat, after exercising his franchise, said, “The large turnout of voters is a positive sign for democracy.”

Mangaldoi BJP candidate Dilip Saikia said, “I cast my votes in the very LP School where I had studied. I believe I’ll win. I shall work for development with support of the masses and the alliance partners.”

Rupak Sarmah, the BJP candidate for Nowgong, said, “The enthusiasm of the voters today prove that Modiji wil again become the PM.”

Sitting MP and Congress candidate for Autonomous District (Diphu) Biren Sing Ingty said, “The people have cast their votes following the slogan, ‘Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao”.

On the other hand, the BJP candidate for Autonomous District (Diphu), Haren Sing Bey said, “I’ve been twice elected to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council. The people have voted for development and the BJP. I believe I’ll be able to live up to their expectations.”

On April 11, polling was held in five Lok Sabha constituencies of Assam: Tezpur, Kaliabar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur. Four constituencies — Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Gauhati — will vote on April 23.

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