Assam records 79.93% turnout in first phase of polling

GUWAHATI: Assam chief election officer Nitin Khade’s attempts to record at least 85 per cent voter turnout in the Assam assembly elections appeared to be in sight with a relatively higher turnout 79.93 per cent in the first phase of polling in Upper Assam yesterday.

Altogether 47 constituencies had gone to polls in the first phase yesterday.

Upper Assam had recorded 78.06 per cent turnout when 65 constituencies went to poll in the first phase in the last assembly elections in 2016.

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The turnout in Upper Assam use to be normally lower than Barak Valley and Lower Assam which will go to polls on April 1 and April 6 respectively.

The peaceful polling and high turnout have also drawn the applause from Union home minister Amit Shah today.

On Saturday, the fates of 264 candidates, including 78 independents and 23 women, were sealed in 12 districts. Polling was conducted in 11,537 polling stations where 81,09,815 voters exercised their franchise.

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The CEO, under a directive of the Election Commission of India, introduced postal ballots for the elderly and the differently abled people in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Targeting an 85 per cent turnout, the CEO has engaged youth icons such as crickter Riyan Parag, actor Kopil Bora, cyclist Rakesh banik, singer Anindita Paul etc and staged street plays to create awareness about voting. The Cachar district administration has also scripted a national record with a long Rangoli on the theme of voters’ awareness.