2016 polls: Number of Independents surge

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 27: In all, 467 Independent candidates are contesting in the two-phase elections to the Assam Assembly slated for April 4 and 11.

The number of Independent candidates has gone up sharply when compared to the 2011 assembly elections. In the last assembly elections, there were 264 Independent candidates, 233 less than the number this year.

The large number of Independent candidates has been attributed to disgruntlement among aspirants denied tickets by political parties.

Another curious case has been the number of contesting candidates at Chapaguri and South Karimganj.

There were only three candidates in the fray at Chapaguri in the last elections, the lowest among the constituencies. This time too only three candidates are contesting  - again the lowest. Raha, Howraghat, Biswath and Thawra also have three candidates this time.

The highest number of candidates this time is in Karimganj South seat (25 candidates). Interestingly, even during the last elections, the seat witnessed a battle between 25 candidates - the highest in that election too.

While 981 candidates had contested the last elections, this time 1,064 are in fray.

The number of female candidates in the last election was 85. This time it is 87.

The turn-out in the last elections was 76.05 per cent.