Guwahati, April 11: The second phase of Assam’s two phase Assembly election ended on Monday. A high turnout was recorded in Assam’s 65 constituencies.
India’s Election Commission (ECI) reported that up to 5pm, 81.96 percent polling was recorded in this, the second phase poll.
Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vijayendra said he was expecting there to be at least an 84 percent participation rate when final numbers are known. Mr. Vijayendra said this will break all previous records.
The State’s previous assembly election recorded a total turnout of 75.94 percent. The loksabha poll in 2014 had an 80.21 percent turnout.
At 5pm, a large number of voters were still waiting to cast their vote at a number of polling stations.
Dr Manmohan Singh Casts His Vote
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Rajya Sabha MP from Assam since 1991 cast his ballot at the Dispur Government HS School. Dispur is in the Dispur assembly constituency.
The second phase poll was held in 14 constituencies in Central Assam and 47 constituencies in Lower Assam.
There are 1,04,35,277 (ten million) voters in the 61 constituencies.
This poll decides the fate of 525 candidates including Assam former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, BJP candidates Himanta Biswa Sarma, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Congress Ministers Rockybul Hussain, Basanta Das, Sukur Ali, Chandan Sarkar, former ministers Dr Ardhendu Kumar Dey, Gautam Bora, Nilamani Sen Deka, Akon Bora, Atul Bora, Chandra Mohan Patowary, and Ramendra Narayan Kalita.
High Turnout in Phase One
The first phase poll was held on April 4 in 65 constituencies. An 82.20 percent turnout was recorded.
The BJP hopes to capture most of Assam’s seats, and the high turnout may be to express dissatisfaction with the previous government.
“People want change this time and we hope the BJP alliance will form the next government,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.
BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora said that the high turnout in both phases reflected the fact that the people of Assam wanted a change.
High Turnout: Sign Of Democracy
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that a large turnout of voters in the Assembly Election in Assam is a good sign of democracy.
He said this scale of popular participation indicates the people’s interest in shaping their own destiny, and this is one of the tenets of a healthy democracy.
The Chief Minister thanked the people of Assam for their spontaneous participation in the electoral process.
Gogoi noted that a sound academic atmosphere and the development of education in Assam over the past 15 years contributed to the growing awareness that the people can help shape their own destiny.
He also acknowledged the positive role of media for increasing the turn-out of voters for the State’s Assembly Elections – 2016.
The result of the state assembly poll is scheduled to be declared on May 19.
