Asthe first phase of voting of the Assam Assembly polls is underway amid tightsecurity in 47 constituencies, reports were received that around 15 to 20 percent voters have turned out to cast their ballots so far on Saturday morning.
Bothmen and women were seen lining up outside polling stations well before thevoting started at 7 a.m. As per details the polling will continue till 6 p.m asthe Election Commission extended the time by an hour in view of the Covid-19induced situations.
Atotal of 8,109,815 voters, including 4,032,481 females, are eligible to casttheir votes across 11,537 polling stations mostly covering the eastern Assam's12 districts.
Thefirst phase of polling will decide the fate of 264 candidates, including ChiefMinister Sarbananda Sonowal (Majuli), Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami(Jorhat), state Congress chief Ripun Bora (Gohpur), Asom Gana Parishad chiefAtul Bora (Bokakhat), Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia(Nazira), jailed Raijor Dal President Akhil Gogoi (Sivasagar) and Assam JatiyaParishad President Lurinjyoti Gogoi (Duliajan).
Twenty-threewomen aspirants are also in the fray. Covid-19 protocols for the voters,including social distancing and thermal screening, are being maintained.
Inthe 2016 elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance secured 35of the 47 seats, while the Congress won nine and the remaining three seats byother parties.
Accordingto the election officials, over 30,000 Central Armed Police Forces along withthousands of state security forces have been deployed to maintain law and orderduring this phase.
Nountoward incident has been reported so far from any of the 12 districts wherethe balloting processes are underway.
Ina unique gesture, the election officials donated saplings to the voters in themodel polling stations, which were decorated with colourful balloons.
The126-member Assam Assembly will go to the polls in three phases. Theother phases will be held on April 1 (39 seats) and April 6 (40 seats). Theresults will be declared on May 2.