Assam records 73.04 pc polling in first phase

Metrac

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The final polling percentage was recorded at 73.04 per cent in the first phase of Assam polls for 62 seats.

Guwahati: The final polling percentage was recorded at 73.04 per cent in the first phase of Assam Assembly polls for 62 seats, Chief Election Officer Hemanta Narzary said on Tuesday.

After receiving polling reports from across the state, Narzary told reporters in Guwahati that out of 85,09,011 voters the turnout of men was 74.10 per cent and women 71.91.

The highest polling of 79.67 per cent was recorded in Lakhimpur and the lowest in N C Hills district with 55.04 per cent, he said.

"No voting was recorded in 40 polling stations in three constituencies with people boycotting the polls on local issues", the CEO said.

People in 22 polling stations in Haflong constituency did not vote due to the Indigenous Peoples Forum demands and one each in Tingkhong and Dhekiajuli on local issues, he said.

"So far we have recommended to the Election Commission three fresh polls in polling station (PS) 38 of Borkhola, PS 77 in Karimganj (South) and PS 82 of Hailakandi. The re-poll date will be decided by the EC", Narzary said.

In Borkhola the re-poll was necessitated by a clash between two polling agents, in Karimganj (S) there was problem with the functioning of the EVM and in Hailakandi there was irregularity in filling up of Form 17 (A) by the presiding officer.

For the first time insurgents in designated camps were given the facility to cast their vote through postal ballot, the CEO said adding that most of them did not know to which polling station they should send their ballot.

The CEO said the second phase of polling would be held in 64 constituencies, including the Bodoland Territorial Administrative District (BTAD) and Indo-Bhutan border areas. "We have 500 companies of security forces for smooth conduct of the elections", he added.

A total of 9.6 million voters in the second phase vote on April 11 in 64 seats would decide the fate of 496 candidates. The multi-phased elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry end May 10 in West Bengal. This is the first major electoral exercise since the 2009 general elections. Results are due on May 13.