GUWAHATI, April 9 � Elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) passed off peacefully today except for a few sporadic incidents of violence in the four districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri. There were, however, reports of rigging.
The voter turnout was said to be around 65 per cent but could go up a little with reports from some interior areas still being awaited.
A total of 198 candidates vied for 40 seats of the council amidst tight security arrangements.
Terming the polls as �by and large peaceful�, State Election Commissioner Biren Dutta said that repolling had been ordered in 16 polling stations, with the break-up being Baska-5, Kokrajhar-1 and Udalguri-10.
�The cause of repolling, however, was not violence in almost all the cases, and was necessitated by the act of pouring of ink-like substances in the ballot boxes by miscreants,� Dutta said.
Our Correspondents add:
KOKRAJHAR: Polling was by and large peaceful in the five BTC constituencies under Kokrajhar subdivision barring a few minor incidents of violence. The voter turnout was around 70 per cent. The final turnout, however, may go up as some reports from some remote areas were still awaited.
Police picked up a few mischief-mongers as they tried to vitiate the atmosphere. Notwithstanding rains since last night, voters turned out in large numbers in the morning and started thronging the polling centres. Another significant aspect was the large assemblage of women voters who braved the inclement weather with gusto to exercise the right to franchise.
BPF supremo Hagrama Mohilary and BPPF president Rabiram Narzary � candidates from Deborgaon and Salakati constituencies respectively � cast their votes in the morning hours. Both the leaders also demanded repolling in some polling stations, alleging widespread rigging.
BONGAIGAON: The BTC polls passed off peacefully except for a few stray incidents in Chirang district today. The voter turnout was high with the percentage being around 75.
Nineteen companies of security forces were required to hold the elections but the district administration had to manage it with only 13 companies at its disposal. This resulted in shortage of adequate security personnel in all the sensitive spots of the district. It was also alleged that the role of the police was not neutral. At some places such as Dadgiri and Bhur Tiniali, local people failed an abortive bid to rig on the part of BPF workers. In Gorubhasa, Simlaguri, Dangtol, Basugaon and Sundari areas, BPF workers resorted to rigging either by influencing the voters or by managing the police forces, locals alleged.
Local people alleged that taking advantage of the lax security, BPF party workers were able to rig the polls to some extent in the different constituencies.
MUSHALPUR: Barring a few sporadic incidents of violence, the second BTC poll passed of peacefully in Baksa district, recording a voter turnout of 65 per cent.
A vehicle used by the supporters of the BPF candidate for the No 30 Darangajuli constituency, Immanuel Mushahary was set on fire by miscreants. Some instances of ballot paper snatching were witnessed at No 46 and 48 polling centres of Swarkuchi last evening and at Jhargaon LP School under Tamulpur subdivision today, though poll was held at both the centres.
KALAIGAON: The BTC election passed off peacefully in Udalguri district, with a voter turnout of 50 to 70 per cent in the ten constituencies.
Two youths, suspected to be NDFB (ceasefire group) supporters, had been arrested at the 64 Nisilamorei centre in Khoirabari under Khoirabari police station after they tried to take control of the polling centre. In another incident, over 650 voters belonging to Tangla ward no 1 under Kalibari LP School centre were deprived of their voting rights as their names were absent in the voters� list. They were from centres 68, 69 and 70 Kalibari LP School. Similarly, another 220 voters failed to cast their votes at Kalaigaon under 35 Mudoibari constituency. The voters belonging to Pub Gerua and Sarania Chuba villages under 33 Gerua Rebusee LP School centre had to return home as their names were missing from the voters� list. The matter has created resentment among people. Senior citizens of Kalaigaon said that the draft electoral rolls had never been published properly, causing serious irregularities.
On the other hand, voting in all the polling stations in No 35 Mudoibari constituency passed off peacefully.
GOSSAIGAON: Amidst doubt, confusion and apprehension of rigging, BTC poll in altogether five constituencies under Gossaigaon Sub-division were peacefully, except for a few stray incidents.
Our Staff Reporter adds: In the meantime, alleging large-scale rigging in today�s BTAD polls, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) alleged that the administration had utterly failed to maintain the law and order situation in all the four districts in the BTAD area.
The AGP has demanded re-polling in over 100 polling centres and has written to the returning officer in this regard.
