Silchar records 65.09 percent turnout, Lakhipur witnesses 74.04 %

  From Our Correspondent

  SILCHAR, February 9:  Silchar and Lakhipur municipal elections today saw a huge voter turnout of 65.09 and 74.04 percent respectively.     Polling was by and large peaceful barring a few incidents of wordy duels between various party cadres in different places. Since the morning, the people rushed to the polling stations and many were seen standing in long queues before the polling booths in Silchar and Lakhipur.

 Polling was by and large peaceful barring a few incidents of wordy duels between various party cadres in different places.  The voters who went today to exercise their franchise expressed their satisfaction at the security arrangement made to ensure free and fair polls. A presiding officer of one of the polling stations of Silchar, standing before the polling booth outside said, “Security arrangement is quite satisfactory. I have not faced any problem in conducting the voting. It is so peaceful and trouble free.”  Abhishek Chaturbedi, a senior citizen, who went to his respective polling station to cast his vote, said, “People are disillusioned with leaders and their parties, having lost their trust and belief in them. Moreover, the youths are not at all interested in politics and maximum of them remain houses entire day. They think that their single vote does not matter which is not all a positive sign.”

  Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gokul Mohan Hazarika said that the poll was held peacefully and there was no untoward incident. He added that the polls passed off peacefully. He expressed his gratitude to all sections of people for their support and cooperation to hold the poll “successfully and peacefully”.

  There were around 131 polling stations in Silchar, while the total number of voters is 131046. This year ninety–five candidates were in the fray from all 28 wards under Silchar Municipal Board. The number of male voters is 66321 while the female voters are 64725. In the ward–wise counting of voters reveals a fact that the sex–ratio in the town is remarkably good and in some parts of the town for example in the ward number 12 where number of female voters are more than that of the number of male voters. Today, more than eight hundred presiding and polling officers were deployed to conduct the polls.   Both Congress and BJP have the chance to form the Board in Silchar, however, the political alysts said that the Congress had an edge over BJP in Lakhipur. If the political alysts are to be believed then the Independent candidates will play a major role in forming the Board in Silchar. There are many wards where the chance of winning of the Independent candidate is very high.