Polling for all 126 seats in Assam is taking place today, with votes to be counted on May 4. Polling commenced at 7 am as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seeks a third consecutive term.
The Congress-led alliance includes Raijor Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
More than 2.5 crore electors are eligible to vote in the legislative assembly elections. There are 722 candidates contesting the seats. Among 25,054,463 electors, 12,531,552 are male, 12,522,593 female, and 318 belong to the transgender category. Additionally, 63,423 are service voters.
The electorate includes 642,314 voters aged 18-19 years, 250,006 aged above 80 years, and 205,085 persons with disabilities. Polling teams have departed with electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) for the election.
Silchar District Commissioner Chachar Aayush Garg stated, “We have deployed a total of 16,000 personnel overall, with all necessary logistics provided. Polling parties will arrive at their respective stations by this evening, and checks will be made to ensure everyone’s safe arrival. For security, around 4,000 police officers have been deployed across 1,700 polling stations, supported by two companies of Central Armed Police Forces kept in reserve.”
Commissioner-Cum-District Election Officer Anamika Tewari reported, “From early morning at 7 o’clock, the strong room was opened and polling materials, including EVMs, were distributed to personnel deputed for 968 polling stations in Morigaon. Teams for the three constituencies have already departed in a staggered manner according to distance - first to the farthest stations, then to Jagiroad and Morigaon. Polling staff have reached safely and were welcomed warmly with local Gamusas. They are now comfortably preparing inside the centres. In Morigaon district, special emphasis has been placed on assured minimum facilities such as safe drinking water, sanitation, and security.”
According to a press release by the Election Commission (EC), under the leadership of Chief Electoral Officer of Assam Anurag Goel, all officials are carrying out their responsibilities diligently. The EC has deployed central observers to monitor law and order and election expenditure issues strictly.
Central Armed Police Forces, including CRPF personnel, have been deployed to secure polling stations. Micro observers have been assigned to sensitive polling stations to facilitate smooth polling.
A total of 151,132 polling personnel have been deployed. For polling purposes, 41,320 Ballot Units, 43,975 Control Units, and 43,997 VVPAT machines have been arranged, including reserves for emergencies. Additional personnel remain on standby.
Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel has appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate to ensure every citizen can exercise their democratic right to vote.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the NDA-which includes the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL)-won 75 seats, with the BJP securing 60. The Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) formed a grand alliance along with the Bodoland People’s Front and communist parties but won only 16 seats out of 126. Voter turnout reached 86.2 per cent, with over 2.2 crore registered voters in 2021.