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.
Delhi Liquor Case: CBI filed charge sheet in Delhi Excise Policy case, Manish Sisodia is not named
The CBI filed the charge sheet on Friday, November 25, 2022, in the Delhi liquor scam case. This
A Heart-Stopping Incident from the Cricket Field: Umpire Stabbed to Death Over Run-Out Decision
Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, where no one can ever predict what might happen or w
Trial of Covid vaccine in the country starts today
The wait for the Covid-19 vaccine may be over soon, and according to sources, after the second ph
The performance of the Indian team against Australia in the World Test Championship final has bee
Afghan Ambassador to China gives account of embassy baggage and leaves
Afghanistan's ambassador to China, Javid Ahmad Qaim, stepped down last week after not receiving a
IND vs. PAK World Cup 2023 Ticket: If you are thinking of enjoying the great match between India
Uma Bharti urges PSUs to join clean Ganga mission
New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Minister of Water Resources, Riv
Today is considered to be a very important day in the politics of Maharashtra. After a long time,
Air pollution in the country's capital Delhi has reached dangerous levels. The fog along with pol
Australia's legendary opener David Warner's international cricket caree
