Assam records 72.1% turnout in 1st phase of polling till 5.30 pm

GUWAHATI: Assam has recorded an overall 72.1 per cent turnout of voters till 5 pm in first phase of polling in 47 constituencies in 12 districts of Upper Assam today.

According to latest data available at 5.20 pm Rupohihat in Nagaon district has recorded the highest turnout of 83 per cent, while Barchola in Sonitpur district has recorded the lowest turnout of only 62.9 per cent.

The Assam chief electoral officer has targeted an overall turnout of 85 per cent in the three-phase elections.

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No incident of violence or rigging has been reported so far from any part of the state so far. Polling will end at 6 pm.

Sources, however, said over-enthusiastic security personnel have allegedly harassed voters in different parts of the state. “We were not allowed to carry even a small bottle of water as we had to wait for hours together in serpentine queues. The babies in our laps were dying of thirst. There was no arrangement for drinking water at the polling booths,” alleged one of a group of women who were carrying babies at a polling station in Chabua in Dibrugarh district.

Another person, who identified himself as Ajay Phukan, in a booth in the same constituency alleged on social media that the button representing the Congress was covered in such a way that voters could not press it. When people objected to it, the polling officials concerned were forced to uncover the button.

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Meanwhile, COVID-19 protocol was followed strictly in most of the polling stations where social distancing was enforced and gloves were issued to voters to cast their votes.

COVID-19 protocols were thrown to the wind during the political campaigns though.

Polling percentage at 5.30 pm:

Amguri - 76.35

Barchola - 62.90

Batadroba - 80.50

Behali - 76.81

Bihpuria - 68.67

Biswanath - 77.42

Bokakhat - 71.10

Chabua - 71

Dergaon - 72.21

Dhakuakhana - 72.85

Dhekiajuli - 71

Dhemaji - 71.10

Dhing - 81

Dibrugarh - 68

Digboi - 71

Doomdooma - 71

Duliajan - 68

Gohpur - 71.34

Golaghat - 75.13

Jonai - 72.49

Jorhat - 69.80

Kaliabor - 74.19

Khumtai - 75.21

Lahoal - 77

Lakhimpur - 69.78

Mahmora - 68.31

Majuli - 77.19

Margherita - 70.67

Mariani - 70.43

Moran - 70

Naharkatia - 73

Naoboicha - 72.15

Nazira - 64

Rangapara - 65.70

Rupohihat - 83

Sadiya - 71.63

Samaguri - 73.60

Sarupathar - 70.76

Sivasagar - 78.12

Sonari - 69.80

Sootea - 64

Teok - 72.88

Tezpur - 76.50

Thowra - 77.65

Tingkhong - 65

Tinsukia - 70

Titabor - 71.31