Assam Panchayat Polls 2025: Voting Dates, Total Seats and Candidates, Counting Date

The polls will be held in 27 districts, barring the 6th schedule districts, which do not fall under the Panchayati raj system.

The stage is set for the Panchayat Polls in Assam which are being held in 2 phases for the first time. Over 1.8 crore people will exercise their franchise in the Panchayat Polls which are being seen as a semi final before the crucial Assembly elections next year.

While the BJP and allies are upbeat with several unopposed wins already, the Congress camp has been left a beleaguered lot with allegations of cash for ticket scam further denting the image of the party in Assam ahead of the crucial state assembly elections next year.

The three tier Panchayat elections are being held to elect 21,920 Gram Panchayat members, 2,192 Anchalik Panchayat members, 2192 each GP Presidents and GP Vice Presidents, 181 AP presidents, 181 AP vice presidents and 397 Zilla Parishad members.

The polls will be held in 27 districts, barring the 6th schedule districts, which do not fall under the Panchayati raj system. While the filing of nominations ended on April 11th, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 17th.

14 districts will go to polls in the first phase of elections on May 2nd, while the remaining 14 will go to polls on May 7th. The districts in Eastern Assam and Barak Valley will go to polls in the first phase. Counting of ballots for both phases will be held on May 11th. Over 25,000 polling stations are being set up across the state for the polls.

Significantly, party symbols will not be used at the Gram Panchayat level which means candidates will run as individuals and not as members of any political party. However, candidates for Anchalik Panchayats and Zilla Parishad can use party symbols.

The Election Commission will use ballot papers for voting instead of EVMs and around 1.2 lakh people will be engaged in the conduct of the elections.

Ahead of the elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has given a clarion call to Independents to withdraw nominations urging them to work together with the BJP. He added that the BJP will win several more seats uncontested and the scenario will be clear by April 17th.

Barak Valley has witnessed the unopposed victory of BJP in 18 Anchalik Panchayat seats. 11 candidates have won from Lakhipur constituency, five from Dholai and two from Udharband. On the other hand, around a dozen Zila Parishad contestants from the NDA camp have also won unopposed so far in the state.

The Assam CM also took a big dig at the Congress stating that the party lacks sincerity and was entirely focusing in collecting money from candidates. The BJP campaign will begin from April 27th with one campaign scheduled per district.

The Panchayat polls, considered the grassroots level elections, will be a litmus test for the opposition in Assam. Under the circumstances, the Congress’ internal discipline going for a toss owing to the numerous allegations of cash for ticket doesn’t augur well for the party ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.

Around 1,20,000 polling personnel will be deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. Additionally, 88 observers have been appointed to oversee the electoral process across 27 districts, ensuring transparency and fairness.

The last date for withdrawing candidature is April 17.

The counting of votes for both phases is scheduled for May 11.

Also Read: Assam Panchayat Elections: BJP Announces 318 Candidates

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