Voting for Final Phase of Assam Panchayat Elections Underway

If necessary, repolling will be conducted on May 9.

Voting is underway for the second and final phase of the Assam Panchayat elections, with eyes firmly set on the outcome following a high voter turnout and early gains by the BJP-led NDA in the first phase.

Voting is underway across 13 districts in central and western Assam, covering 12,130 polling stations from 7:30 AM and will conclude at 4:30 PM.

This phase will determine the fate of 29,608 candidates contesting for 181 Zila Parishad (ZP) seats, 87 Anchalik Parishad (AP) constituencies, and 10,530 Gaon Panchayat (GP) wards.

In this phase, 1,289 candidates have already been elected unopposed, including 21 ZP members, 151 AP members, and 1,117 GP ward members.

Over 91.31 lakh voters (46.30 lakh men, 44.99 lakh women and 251 individuals from other gender identities) are eligible to cast their ballots today.

If necessary, repolling will be conducted on May 9.

The stakes are high as the first phase, held on May 2 saw a strong voter turnout of 70.19%, with the BJP-led NDA securing an early lead by winning 325 seats uncontested comprising 37 Zilla Parishad seats (35 BJP and 2 AGP) and 288 Anchalik Parishad seats (259 BJP and 29 AGP). Independents captured 15 Anchalik Parishad seats, while the Congress won 9, and the AIUDF secured one seat unopposed.

The first phase of the elections was held in 14 districts, including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Majuli, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi. This marked the first local body election after the delimitation of constituencies in Assam.

In response to sporadic incidents during the first phase of the panchayat elections later repolling was held at 44 polling stations across 5 districts on May 4.

According to the SEC, the overall voter turnout in the first phase is 70.19 %.

Of the 89.59 lakh eligible voters, Majuli recorded the highest turnout at 80.02%, while Sonitpur reported the lowest at 61%.

Elections are being held in 28 districts, excluding the 7 districts governed under the 6th Schedule via autonomous councils.

Votes for both phases will be counted on May 11.

Also Read: Voting for Assam Panchayat Polls Phase 1 Ends

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