GUWAHATI, Jan 30 � The first phase of panchayat polls held today in upper Assam passed off peacefully, with no major untoward incident being reported from any place.
Our Staff Correspondent/Correspondents add:
Dibrugarh: The district recorded an estimated 72 per cent polling in the first phase of the panchayat polls held today with minor incidents of squabble between rival political party workers at certain polling stations.
District Election Officer, Biswajit Phukan said that polling continued up to 7 pm at some of the polling stations, especially those with more than 1000 voters. Reports of certain irregularities did crop up in electoral rolls as the serial numbers of the voters had to be corrected at certain polling stations.
The overall conduct of the first phase panchayat polls in the district was smooth and fair, according to Superintendent of Police Arabinda Kalita.
Majuli: Sixty per cent polling was recorded in Majuli subdivisiontoday, even as bhakats of many satras could not cast their vote as their names were missing from the voters� list.
Forty voters from Bengena Ati Satra under Ward No 5 of Kamalabari gaon panchayat staged a sit-in strike in protest against the absence of their names from the voters� list. A similar situation prevailed at Garamur gaon panchayat also. Sri Sri Haridev Goswami, Satradhikar of Garamur Satra was also deprived of casting his vote. In Ward No 9 of Kamalabari gaon panchayat also several voters could not cast their votes due to lapses on the part of the authorities concerned.
Jorhat: Jorhat district recorded more than 70 per cent polling in 1156 polling centres. The officers from the remote polling stations are yet to reach the election offices and the poll percentage may grow higher, said Jorhat Deputy Commissioner, RC Jain.
But in Majuli, police had to fire 15 rounds in the air to take the ballot boxes from No 116 Chinatali Grazing LP School Centre under 96 Ratanpur Gayan Gaon Panchayat as the supporters of Congress and one independent ward member candidate prevented the poll officials from coming out of the centre after 3 pm.
Jonai: Along with the rest of Dhemaji district, panchayat poll was held at 156 polling booths in Jonai subdivision. Jonai election department conducted election for two zilla parishad constituencies (ZPC), one anchalik panchayat and fifteen gram panchayats. Election department has recorded 72 per cent voting in the subdivision.
Nagaon: The poll percentage in Nagaon subdivision was nearly 70 till filing of this report, but the final percentage maybe different because all the data are yet to be compile. Kaliabar recorded 69per cent polling.
Some incidents occurred in Bajiagaon, Raidingia, Nijdhing, Gerua and other places.
Teok: Polling for the first phase of panchayat election in 102 Teok LAC under Jorhat district passed off peacefully on Wednesday. About 67 per cent votes were polled in the two anchalik panchayats under Kaliapani and Chapihakhula develpoment blocks for four zila parishad members, 19 panchayat presidents, 19 anchalik panchayat members and 1900 ward members.
Tinsukia: The first phase of panchayat polls passed off peacefully in Tisukia district today, with the polling percentage being about 71. There are about six lakh voters in the district. There are 3145 candidates vying for various posts.
Kohora: The panchayat election in Kaziranga area including Kohora passed off peacefully today.
Dergaon: Seventy per cent polling was recorded in Golaghat district today in the first phase of panchayat polls, informed ADC Swapna Deka. Polling was peaceful in the district.
Repoll has been ordered at 21 Chetiagaon LP School and Chankala LP School on Februaray 1 due to anomalies in distribution of ballot paper.
Doomdooma: Polling for four zila parishad seats and 15 gaon panchayats under No 125 Doomdooma LAC passed off peacefully at 3 pm today. Seventy-five per cent polling was recorded there. Similarly, 75 per cent polling was recorded in No 126 Sadiya LAC.
