GUWAHATI, April 4 - Overcast skies and rain in parts of the State could not deter the spirit of the voters in the first phase of Assembly elections held amid tight security on Monday for deciding the fate of 539 candidates in 65 of the 126 constituencies. Our Correspondents report:
Silchar: According to district election office, 76.9 per cent voter turnout recorded in Cachar district.
People were seen in long queue outside the polling stations across the district awaiting their turn to cast their votes amid heavy and elaborate security arrangements.
�We are happy to have participated in the democratic process. It is a great feeling to be able to exercise our franchise and hope that the next Government will fulfil our expectations and their promises,� said Tanima Roy and Baishali Nath.
Despite illness, former Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev was in his usual spirit as he went on a wheelchair to cast his vote at Nityamoyee Girls School. He was accompanied by his daughter Tapati Dev, son-in-law Jatin Rathi and AICC spokesperson Dipon Dewanjee. Silchar MLA and BJP candidate Dilip Kumar Paul casted his vote at Kulada Sundari Patshala.
Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Vishwanathan, who casted his vote at the Chhotelal Seth School at Shillongpatty, said, �I am very happy to have voted here and I am sure people will have similar feelings.�
Dibrugarh: The district recorded some 86 per cent voter turnout on Monday. Of all the constituencies in the district, Chabua Assembly segment recorded the highest polling percentage with 85.19 per cent till 5 pm.
Duliajan LAC registered 82.1 per cent voter turnout, while Naharkatia LAC recorded 81 per cent. Tingkhong LAC recorded 79 per cent turnout, Lahoal LAC recorded 78 per cent turnout, Dibrugarh LAC recorded 77 per cent and Moran LAC recorded 84.13 per cent turnout till 5 pm.
Polling in �all-women polling stations� where the booths were being managed by women polling officers and women security personnel for the first time in elections were found smooth and disciplined.
Reena Devi Borah, the Presiding Officer at the polling station in Oil Higher Secondary School (South), Duliajan, said that she was conducting the polls for the first time. �I was initially nervous but soon gained confidence. Polling has been smooth,� she added.
Anima Chetia, the Presiding Officer at polling station in Rajgarh High School (E) also expressed satisfaction for successful conduct of the polls.
The polling started as early as 6 am and by noon most of the polling stations registered 65 to 75 per cent voting. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district.
Jorhat: More than 80 per cent voter turnout recorded in Jorhat election district that include three Legislative Assembly constituencies namely Dergaon, Jorhat and Teok.
�Till now we have got the record of 80 per cent turnout in all these constituencies. The exact percentage of the polling will go up as we are yet to receive some records,� said Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Solanki Vishal Vasant.
Majuli witnessed the maximum percentage of voter turnout with 88 per cent, while Titabor and Mariyani constituencies respectively recorded 85 and 84 per cent voter turnout.
Teok and Dergaon constituencies also recorded more than 80 per cent turnout. The rural areas also witnessed the unprecedented trend of early polling at Potiagaon, Kokilamukh, Dhenushusa and many other parts of Jorhat.
Hailakandi: The three LACs of Hailakandi district recorded about 81 per cent turnout despite daylong rain. No untoward incident reported from any part of the district so far. The voting passed off peacefully in Algapur, Hailakandi and Katlicherra LACs of Hailakandi district.
Sonari: The polling passed off peacefully in 105-Mahmora and 106-Sonari LACs. In Mahmora LAC, 82 per cent voter turnout recorded, while in Sonari LAC, 85 per cent voters exercised their franchise on Monday. However, in polling station 100-Mamon Missing LP School under Sonari LAC, two fake voters reportedly tried to cast their votes.
Doomdooma: Polling ended peacefully at 5 pm on Monday at 125-Doomdooma and 126-Sadiya LACs of Tinsukia district. About 83.85 per cent voter turnout recorded at Doomdooma and about 77.65 per cent voter turnout recorded at Sadiya LAC. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the two LACs.
Chabua: In total 78 per cent voters casted their ballots at 121-Chabua LAC. No untoward incident was reported.
Badarpur: The polling passed off peacefully in all the polling stations of Karimganj district amid tight security arrangements. According to poll officials, over 70 per cent voter turnout recorded in the entire district.
Diphu: The first phase of elections passed off peacefully in the four constituencies of hill district Karbi Anglong on Monday. There are three Assembly constituencies in East Karbi Anglong � 17-Bokajan, 19-Howraghat and 19-Diphu.
On the other hand, the 20-Baithalangso is the only single seat of West Karbi Anglong. No threat of militant organisation or violence was reported this time in Karbi Anglong.
The West Karbi Anglong district recorded 76 per cent of voter turnout, where in Diphu it was 83 per cent, in Howraghat 82 per cent, in Bokajan 83.64 per cent and in Baithalangso, the voter turnout was 67 per cent.
Tezpur: The elections for the five LACs under the Tezpur Election District namely 71-Dhekiajuli, 72-Barchala, 73-Tezpur, 74-Rangapara and 75-Sootea LACs held on Monday passed off peacefully with over 80 per cent voter turnout.
Election office sources here said that poll percentage in Dhekiajuli was 83.22 per cent, in Barchala 85.5 per cent, in Tezpur 81.77 per cent, in Rangapara 81 per cent and in Sootea 80 per cent poll percentage recorded.
Kohora: The polling in Kaziranga area under 93-Bokakhat LAC passed off peacefully on Monday. In all nine polling stations here, youngsters were seen casting their votes.
Jonai: The voter turnout in 114-Jonai (ST) LAC recorded about 80 per cent. Electronic voting machines in two polling booths at Borbahuli and Mesaki Chapori reported defunct, which were later replaced.
Barring some minor conflicts among party supporters in some polling stations, overall voting passed off peacefully.
In Tinsukia too, the voting passed off peacefully. The election process has been completed peacefully with the percentages of votes polled in Tinsukia recorded 80.34 per cent, in Digboi 87.38 per cent, in Doomdooma 83.55 per cent, in Margherita 80.51 per cent and in Sadiya 77.65 per cent.
Udalguri: According to the government officials, 79.32 per cent voters exercised their franchise in 64-Panery LAC, 81.43 per cent voters in 69-Udalguri (ST) LAC and 82.45 per cent in 70 Mazbat LAC.
Bokakhat: Polling in Bokakhat LAC passed off peacefully on Monday. No untoward incident reportedly took place. The constituency recorded 87.47 voter turnout.
Digboi: In all the polling stations under 123-Digboi and 125-Margherita LACs have witnessed a rush as 82.38 percent voter turnout was recorded in Digboi and 81.32 per cent recorded in Margherita LAC.
Jorhat: Polling percentage in Golaghat constituency recorded more than 76 per cent on Monday, while over 79 per cent voter turnout was witnessed in Khumtai constituency.
Biswanath Chariali: Polling passed off peacefully on Monday in 76-Biswanath, 77-Behali and 78-Gohpur LACs in Biswanath district. Around 86.9 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the constituency, while it was 84.8 per cent in Behali LAC and 81 per cent in Gohpur LAC.
