Guwahati, April 03:Arrangements for the smooth conduct of first
phase of Assam Assembly election have been completed as the state’s
electorate in 62 constituencies prepare to cast their votes tomorrow.
Security measures have been tightened and strict vigil is being kept for the peaceful conduct of the polling, official sources said.
Police sources said the existing as well as additional Central security forces have been deployed across the constituencies that go to the polls in the first phase.
Over 14,000 people across the state, who could pose threat to smooth polling, have been made to sign bonds, pledging good behaviour.
Close to 5000 Non-Bailable warrants have already been executed and over 100 unlicensed arms and other explosives seized.
Over 6,500 licenced arms have also been made to deposit so far.
Altogether 85,09,010 votes, comprising 43,91,889 male and 41,17,121 female, will cast their votes in the 62 constituencies, spread across Barak Valley and eastern and northern districts.
Of the 62 constituencies, three are reserved for SC and nine for ST candidates.
The fate of 485 candidates, including 38 female, will be sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines.
The ruling Congress and Opposition BJP have candidates in all the 62 constituencies in the first phase.
Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has fielded candidates in 51 constituencies in the first phase, followed by Trinamool Congress in
44, All India United Democratic Front in 29 and Nationalist Congress
Party in 17.
The CPI has candidates in 10 seats, CPI(M) in eight, Samajwadi Party in seven, Bodoland People’s Front in three, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in eight and Shiv Sena in three.
There are 157 Independents in the fray.
Polling would be held in 11,264 polling stations in 7,743 locations.
Of these, 1,350 would be covered by video or still photo surveillance.
As many as 2,093 polling stations have been identified as hyper-sensitive and 2,985 as sensitive. Another 817 hamlets have been identified as vulnerable.
As many as 1,516 micro-observers have been appointed for the first phase, along with 25 general observers and 21 expenditure observers.
Electorate-wise, the largest constituency is Jonai with 2,32,669 voters and the smallest is Thowra with 94,728 voters.
There is highest number of 25 candidates contesting in Karimganj (South) constituency, while lowest three candidates are in fray in Baithalangso constituency.
Among the high-profile candidates whose fate will be sealed tomorrow are Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, BJP state president Ranjit Dutta, former AGP chief Brindabon Goswami, Assembly Speaker TB Rai and several state Cabinet ministers.
Campaigning was high pitched for the first phase polls with parties bringing in Central leaders to Bollywood stars to attract voters.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee and Salman Khurshid campaigned for the
ruling Congress, which aims to complete a hat-trick at Dispur.
The BJP used L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Hema Malini, among others, for campaigning.
Elections for the remaining 64 constituencies will be held on April 11. Counting of votes will be done on May 13.
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