124 transgender persons to cast vote in first phase of Assam Elections 2021
- Mar 26, 2021,
- Updated Mar 26, 2021, 12:48 AM IST
GUWAHATI: A total of 124 transgender persons to cast their vote in the first phase of Assam assembly elections in 47 constituencies on Saturday.
The data was revealed by Assam chief electoral officer Nitin Khade here today.
"Our first priority is to conduct a free, fair, smooth, and peaceful election and we are fully prepared to conduct likewise," said Khade.
In the first phase of the Assam election 2021, a total of 81,90,815 electors will decide the fate of 264 candidates. There will be 11,537 polling stations in 6,463 different locations. Among those, 9,620 will be main stations and 1,917 will be auxiliaries.
"Among the 81,90,815 electors, 40,70,210 are male, 40,32,481 are female and 124 are transgenders," Khade further said.
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The Gauhati High Court has in the meantime directed the government to make separate arrangements for transgender voters at the polling booths.
"As a new step, this time we have also included webcasting, where 50 percent polling stations categorized as critical, vulnerable, or with the maximum number of voters, will be under surveillance. Two teams are assigned for monitoring that as well. One would be here in Guwahati and another will be monitoring from New Delhi," Khade added further.
Inspector general of police Deepak Kr Kedia said: "After the implementation of model code of conduct, we have seized and destroyed liquor valued at Rs 2.29 crore, drugs valued at Rs 10 crore, and arms and a total of 4,402 arms and ammunition."
This time Assam election office is eyeing at a record 85 per cent turnout, and for that, it has engaged youth icons for promotionals, street play artists to educate voters and for the first time in India, they have introduced a postal ballot facility for select people as well.