Assam elections 2021 LIVE Updates: Polling for 1st phase ends; voter turnout of 76.89%

The polling for 47 seats in the first phase of the Assam Assembly polls has ended. Announcing that Assam recorded a voter turnout of 76.89%., the Chief Electoral Officer stated that it might increase a bit after final compilation.

Turnout (in percentage): 

Amguri- 76.35
Borsola- 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- 68
Doomdooma- 65
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- 62
Titabor- 71.31

As of 3.32 pm, Assam has seen an overall voter turnout of 62.04%. So far, the Behali constituency has recorded the highest turnout of 70.18%. 

Assam Congress President Ripun Bora cast his vote at a polling booth in Gohpur on Saturday as the first phase of the assembly elections was underway in the state. 

Assam recorded 37.06%  voter turnout recorded till 1 pm, in the first phase of polling, the Election Commission of India said. 

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi took part in the first phase of Assembly elections in Assam by casting his vote in Jorhat and appealed to the people to 'save' the state by exercising their rights. He said this election will be a 'test' for citizens who are expecting hope for better days to come in the state.

"It's a very emotional moment for me as it is the first time after many years that I am coming to a polling station without my parents. Confident that people will vote out politics of lies and deceit, and vote for the party that guarantees a bright future," Gogoi told reporters after casting his vote.

Taking to Twitter the Congress leader said on this day, the voters of Assam will help tea workers get what they deserve and reiterated the party's promise of Rs. 365/- to tea workers and daily wage earners.

Assam Congress leader Rockybul Hussain cast his vote at a polling booth in Amoni. Hussain has been fielded as a Congress candidate from the Samaguri constituency.

As polling began for the first phase of assembly elections in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday urged the people to vote for progress and the golden future of the state.

"Today, the first phase of polling is being held in Assam. I appeal to the people of Assam, especially the youth and my sisters, to go to the polling booths today and vote in large numbers," Priyanka Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi. "Vote for progress and golden future of Assam," said the Congress general secretary, who has campaigned in the state. 

The Congress-led 'Mahajot' alliance is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Assam which is voting in three phases starting on Saturday. The counting of votes will be on May 2.

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal offered prayers at the Boga Baba Mazar as polling was underway for the first phase of state assembly elections on Saturday.  Stating that the work done by the BJP government has provided great relief to the public over the last 5 years, the CM exuded confidence that all its candidates will win in this phase of elections.

“The work we have done in 5 years has provided great relief to the public. Irrespective of caste and religion we bought everyone together. That's why the BJP is everywhere. Other parties have a great presence in the media but on the ground they are nothing. Our aim is to form BJP govt again with more than 100 seats. All our candidates will win,” Sonowal said.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday appealed to the voters to exercise their choice fearlessly as polling was underway for phase one elections in Assam and West Bengal. He also reminded people to follow COVID-19 norms as they lined up to cast their votes. 

The first-phase voting in the politically volatile state of Assam started at 7 am on Saturday. Till 9 am, Assam recorded a voter turnout of 10.01% according to the data of the Election Commission of India. In the neighbourhood state of West Bengal, 9.95% people exercised in right to vote in the early hours of Saturday. 

BJP candidates Ajanta Neog and minister Ranjit Dutta cast their votes in Golaghat and Behali constituencies of Assam respectively.

Exuding confidence in Congress' victory in the ongoing phase one elections in Assam, party leader Jaiveer Shergill said on Saturday that 'Assam will show exit door to BJP's “Nakaam” Sarkar'. Taking to Twitter, he said the first phase of assembly polls will deliver the first 'Jhatka' to BJP in Assam and people would give a strong message that “voters can’t be taken for granted”.

As polling for phase-1 of Assembly elections in Assam began at 7 am on Saturday, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged all eligible citizens, especially the youth of Assam to exercise their right to vote. 

The temperature of voters was being checked and the arrangement of masks, gloves, and hand sanitiser was made at a primary school - designated as a polling booth - in the Lahowal Assembly constituency of Dibrugarh.

BJP National President JP Nadda appealed to all voters to participate in the election process as voting for phase one of the Assam Assembly polls began on Saturday. He also reminded people to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

"Today is the first phase of voting in the Assam assembly elections. I request all voters to participate in this holy festival of democracy in maximum number and set a new voting record. Also, take care of wearing masks and social distancing," Nadda wrote on Twitter. 

Voters turned out in large numbers in Rupahi, Nagaon District, for voting in the first phase of Assam Assembly elections. A long queue of voters was also seen outside a polling station in Bakul, Dibrugarh. Meanwhile, voters followed physical distancing at a polling station set up at Kamala Bari Junior Basic School, Majuli.

A long queue of voters was seen at a polling centre in Rupahi, Nagaon District. Similar scenes were witnessed at a polling station in JP Nagar, Dibrugarh, as polling gets underway for the first phase of Assembly elections.

At the onset of phase one of assembly elections in Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to all the citizens to come forward and cast their votes. In a message to the people of the state, Shah said "your participation in the election process is the main pillar of the progress of Assam."

"Today, the first phase of polling is held in Assam. I appeal to all brothers and sisters, especially the youth, to vote in large numbers to maintain peace, development and prosperity in the state. Your participation in this grand festival of democracy is the main pillar of the progress of Assam, so do vote," Shah wrote on Twitter. 

Voting has begun for 47 of the 126 Assembly seats in the first phase of the Assam elections. A total of 264 candidates are in the poll fray, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Voters lined up outside 11537 polling stations in Assam on Saturday, March 27.  See visuals here

Altogether, 81,09,815 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase. Of them, 40,77,210 are male and 40,32,481 female, while 124 are third gender voters, besides nine overseas voters.

Preparations underway at a polling station in Rupahi, Nagaon district, ahead of voting for the first phase of Assam Assembly Polls.
 

Prime Minister Modi has called upon all eligible citizens to cast their votes, as the first phase of elections kick-started in Assam on Saturday. He especially called on the youth to exercise their right to vote. 

Touted as a close battle between the incumbent BJP-led alliance and the Mahajot, the Assam Assembly election is being conducted in three phases- on March 27, April 1, and April 6. The polling for the first phase of the Assembly polls will get underway on March 27.  As the polling has been increased by 1 hour, people can now cast their votes between 7 am and 6 pm. There are nearly 264 candidates including 23 women in the fray for the 47 constituencies going to the polls on Saturday.

In the first phase, allies BJP and AGP are fielding candidates in 39 and 10 seats respectively with the two parties expected to have a friendly contest in Lakhimpur and Naharkatiya constituencies. While Congress is contesting 43 seats, AIUDF, CPI(ML-L), RJD and AGM are in contention in one constituency each. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

Seats going to the polls in the 1st phase:

Dhekiajuli, Barchalla, Tezpur, Rangapara, Sootea, Biswanath, Behali, Gohpur, Dhing, Batadroba, Rupohihat, Samaguri, Kaliabor, Bokakhat, Sarupathar, Golaghat, Khumtai, Dergaon, Jorhat, Majuli, Titabar, Mariani, Teok, Amguri, Nazira, Mahmara, Sonari, Thowra, Sibsagar, Bihpuria, Naoboicha, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Dhemaji, Jonai, Moran, Dibrugarh, Lahowal, Duliajan, Tingkhong, Naharkatia, Chabua, Tinsukia, Digboi, Margherita, Doom Dooma and Sadiya

Key alliances in the fray:

The 15-year tenure of Tarun Gogoi as the Chief Minister of Assam came to an end in the 2016 Assembly polls with BJP winning 86 seats as against 26 seats won by Congress. In a blow for BJP in the lead-up to the Assembly election, its ally Bodoland People's Front (BPF) decided to join the Congress-led alliance. While BJP is contesting 92 seats, it has allocated 26 and 8 seats to Asom Gana Parishad and the United People's Party Liberal respectively.

It has refrained from announcing incumbent CM Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM candidate, leading to speculations that Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma might be another contender for the post. On the other hand, Congress has formed a grand alliance with BPF, AGM, AIUDF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), RJD and JPP. The pact with AIUDF has caused some consternation in the Congress camp.

Important electoral battles:

• Majuli: Sarbananda Sonowal (BJP) vs Rajib Lochan Pegu (Congress)

• Lakhimpur: Utpal Dutta (AGP) vs Manab Deka (BJP) vs Joy Prakash (Congress)

• Titabar: Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah (Congress) vs Hemanta Kalita (BJP)

• Sibsagar: Surabhi Rajkonwari (BJP) vs Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal) vs Subhramitra Gogoi (Congress)

• Gohpur: Utpal Borah (BJP) vs Ripun Bora (Congress)

•  Jorhat: Hitendra Nath Goswami (BJP) vs Rana Goswami (Congress)

• Nazira: Debabrata Saikia (Congress) vs Mayur Borgohain (BJP)

• Bokakhat: Atul Bora (AGP) vs Mridul Saikia (NCP)