Guwahati, April 7 (IANS) Over 49 percent of voters Monday cast their ballot in the first six hours of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, officials said.
Monday's polling kick-started the nine-phase 16th Lok Sabha polls in the country.
As balloting began from 7 a.m., people queued up at polling stations in the state's five constituencies - Tezpur, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur. Brisk polling was seen barring a few booths where the process was delayed due to technical snags in the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The overall polling percentage in the five constituencies was 49.64 percent till 1 p.m., Assam's chief electoral officer said.
While 12 percent polling was recorded in the first two hours till 9 a.m., it went up to 36.44 percent by 11 a.m.
With 53.89 percent of polling, Tezpur recorded the highest voting so far among the five constituencies, followed by Kaliabor with 51.04 percent, Lakhimpur with 49.43 percent, Jorhat with 48.02 percent and Dibrugarh with 45.82 percent, the electoral office said.
Polling was peaceful in all the five constituencies, even as the day coincided with the 'Raising Day' of insurgent outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
Although there were no direct threats by the militants this time, police and security forces were deployed in strength to ensure smooth polling.
An estimated 6.4 million people were eligible to vote Monday for the five seats, which have a total of 51 candidates in the fray.
The second phase of polling will be held April 12 in three of the state's total 14 constituencies - Silchar, Karimganj and Diphu (autonomous district).
The third phase will be held April 24 in the remaining six constituencies - Gauhati, Barpeta, Nowgong, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Mangaldai.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi, outgoing Congress MP Bijoy Krishna Handique, BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal, and union ministers Ranee Narah and Paban Singh Ghatowar are among Monday's prominent aspirants.
Canadian MP said - strict action should be taken against anti-Hindu groups, Ram temple was damaged
The Ram temple is located in Mississauga, Canada, the temple was damaged in the past and anti-Ind
The family of Ziona Chana of Mizoram, head of the world's largest family (167 people), is not rea
Akhilesh Yadav, wife have narrow escape as bird hits chopper
Lucknow, April 28 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had a narrow escape Sunday
India-UK FTA: India and UK can sign FTA this year, Commerce Secretary said this
India and UK may sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this year as both countries have reached a conse
Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy said that India is planning to bring National Touris
With the emergence of another video related to YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was caught on charges
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to hold the Asia Cup Super-4 and the final match in C
Gilchrist praises Sangakkara with hilarious tweet
Melbourne, March 12 (IANS) Former Australian batting star Adam Gilchrist acknowledged wicketkee
Trump India Visit: Rs 38 lakh was spent on Trump's 36-hour visit to India, family came in 2020
In 2020, the Central Government spent 38 lakh rupees on the visit of the then US President Donald
India launches GST 2.0 today, introducing major changes to tax rates. After the GST Council's Sep
