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.
Environmentalists have expressed disappointment with the Union Budget 2026-27, stating that it mi
When IPL 2025 was stopped, the Lucknow Super Giants team was relieved that they had all the playe
Bengal business meet nets over Rs.2.4 lakh crore, promises one crore jobs (Roundup)
Kolkata, Jan 8 (IANS) Attracting a financial commitment of over Rs.2.4 lakh crore, and promisin
Muzaffarnagar tragedy: scattered poori-vegetable… food on hand! Painful tales of laborers
Shadab Rizvi, Muzaffarnagar
The scattered puri-vegetable on the highway is a testimony to
Diabetics more prone to retinopathy leading to blindness
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Diabetic retinopathy is emerging as an important factor for blindnes
20 Days, 20 Steps: A look At Government’s Measures Against Covid-19 Amid Lockdown
सोमवार को, भारत ने 25 मार्च को प्रधान म
Mamta Banerjee was seen making momos in Darjeeling, its political meaning is interesting
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is known for her unique style. Sometimes she is seen in a
Congress using secularism to digress from real problems: Modi
Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), April 20 (IANS) BJP leader Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Congress o
After aggressive Campaign, Modi opts for Silence
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Twenty four hours after the Delhi poll results, which came as a nasty
France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna is coming to India on her three
