Assam creates history with 84.72% turnout

Women voters showed more enthusiasm than male voters

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 12: With the second phase of the Assam Assembly election, 2016 drawing to a close on Monday, the State has set a record with overall 84.72 per cent polling in the first and second phases. The second phase witnessed a voter turnout of 87.03 per cent, whereas in the first phase it was 82.2 per cent.

It is for the first time that Assam has witnessed such a high voter turnout, considering both past Lok Sabha elections and earlier Assembly elections.

The previous record was set in the Assembly elections of 1996 with 78.92 per cent, whereas the 2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed highest turnout with 80.21 per cent.

Even in the 1985 elections, held just after signing of the historic Assam Accord, the turnout was only 78.61 per cent.

This time, the assembly constituency-wise highest polling percentage of 93.53 has been recorded at Jaleswar LAC in Goalpara election district and the lowest of 75.05 at Silchar LAC in Cachar district.

Female voters showed more enthusiasm in exercising their franchise compared to male voters. With 84.81 per cent polling, female voters remained ahead of male voters whose turnout was 84.64 per cent.

The election was held in all 126 LACs under 50 election districts of the State. Total number of polling stations was 24,890 while total number of voters was 1,99,47,690. Out of these, 1,03,10,623 were male and 96,37,067 female.

A total 1,69,00,487 voters exercised their franchise, out of which 87,26,959 were male and 81,73,528 were female. Altogether, 1064 candidates contested in the election. Out of these, 30 candidates contested from AGP, 74 from AIUDF, 89 from BJP, 122 from INC, 13 from BPF, 15 from CPI, 19 from CPI(M), 497 were Independents and 205 from other smaller and unregistered parties.