Lok Sabha Election: Stage Set For Phase-III Polls

GUWAHATI: As campaigning concluded at 5 pm on Sunday for four seats, namely Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, and Gauhati HPCs, the stage is all set for the third and final phase of Parliamentary polls in Assam when fates of 54 candidates will be sealed in 9,577 sets of EVMs and VVPATs. The elections for these four seats will be held from 7 am to 5pm on April 23. Meanwhile, all the political parties including their candidates with support of star campaigners participated in several poll rallies and road shows across the seats to make last-ditch attempts to woo voters.

During the third phase, 15 candidates are in the poll fray in Dhubri, 13 in Barpeta, and nine in Kokrajhar (ST) seats. Significantly, two balloting units will be used in Gauhati HPC as there is a provision for only 16 candidates in a single balloting unit. Altogether 17 candidates are contesting in Gauhati,

Altogether 74,77,062 electorates will get the chance to exercise their franchise across 9,577 polling stations. Of them, 38,15,335 are male voters; 36,61,570 are female voters; and 157 are third gender electorates.

Of the total 524 remote polling stations, the maximum number (314) are located in Dhubri; followed by Barpeta (140), and Gauhati (70). Some personnel already left for such polling stations (including a few in Kamrup district) on Sunday. Significantly, there are no remote polling stations in Kokrajhar.

There are 147 polling stations with all women polling personnel. Of them, 79 are located in Gauhati, 29 in Dhubri, 28 in Barpeta, and 11 in Kokrajhar (ST).

There are 125 model polling stations. The breakup is: Gauhati (17), Dhubri (15), Barpeta (13), and Kokrajhar-ST (nine).

According to Election Department, Assam, 38,308 polling personnel and 200 companies of security personnel would be deployed for the third phase of general elections in the State. Besides, a minimum of one constable would be deployed in every polling station.

The last phase of LS polls here has also witnessed the deployment of 436 Micro Observers, five General Observers, four Expenditure Observers, and three Police Observers. Moreover, there are also 125 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs), 112 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), 83 Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs) monitoring the polls.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal participated in a number of political rallies during the day. Talking to media in Guwahati, Sonowal said, “The BJP-AGP-BPF alliance will have good results. The BJP will win the Gauhati seat. Narendra Modiji will form the government in Delhi once again.”

Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma participated in meetings in support of BPF candidate from Gossaigaon, Pramila Rani Brahma. He said, “The BJP alliance will comfortably win nine seats of the 10 that went to the polls during the first two phases. We will register victory in the other seat as well, might be with a less margin. During Modi’s government, there has been security for all, and the pace of development has also gained in momentum.”

AGP president Atul Bora accompanied Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the election rallies.

Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi participating in a road show in support of Congress candidate from Gauhati, Bobbeeta Sharma, said, “The people’s mandate is in favour of the Congress now.”

BJP state president Ranjit Kumar Dass participated in a poll rally in support of AGP candidate for Dhubri, Javed Islam. AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal campaigned for United People’s Party (Liberal) candidate from Kokrajhar, Urkhao Gwra Brahma. Kumar Dipak Das, AGP candidate for the Barpeta seat also brought out a road show on Sunday.

Also Read: Top Headlines