GUWAHATI: In the initial phase of polling for five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam on Friday, over 70.77% of voters cast their ballots. This figure marks a 6.37% decrease compared to the turnout during the corresponding phase in the 2019 general elections.
Among the five constituencies, Jorhat recorded the highest turnout at 76.20%, according to the latest data from the Election Commission of India.
The Jorhat constituency witnessed a direct contest between Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and incumbent BJP MP Topon Gogoi.
In Dibrugarh, where Union Minister Sarbanada Sonowal ran for office, the voter turnout stood at 70.65%.
A total of 35 candidates are vying for victory across the five contested seats – Kaziranga, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Lakhimpur – in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Assam.
The office of the Electoral Officer also informed the local press about reports of EVM malfunctioning in at least three polling booths in Bihpuria, Lakhimpur, and one each in Hojai, Kaliabor, Bokakhat, and Naharkatia of Dibrugarh.
Emerging reports revealed that an SUV carrying an electronic voting machine partially sank into a river after the water level rose suddenly, washing away a mechanised boat ferrying the vehicle in Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency.
Fortunately, the driver and the polling officer of the vehicle managed to escape before the water gushed in.
Meanwhile, both the BJP and Congress expressed optimism about significant wins in the first phase of the polls in the state.
After casting his vote at the Sahitya Sabha Polling Booth in Dibrugarh on April 19, Sonowal stated that the massive turnouts at polling booths confirm the satisfaction of the people of Assam with the work done by the ruling BJP.
Congress candidate Gaurav Gogoi, contesting from the Jorhat seat, highlighted that winning margins are not among his immediate concerns.
He expressed that this election has a much larger agenda for the India Bloc.
Speaking to the press after casting his vote at Devicharan Baruah Balika Vidyalaya in Ward No. 10 in Jorhat, the sitting MP highlighted that the primary goal of his party is to “save the Constitution”.
He added, “This election is fought on bigger issues; it’s about saving the Constitution. And it’s encouraging to see so many people coming out to vote with that instinct. Everyone understands their duty, and there is a lot of positivity in the party.”
