Guwahati: The elections to the 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) witnessed a voter turnout of 70.96 per cent till 4:30 pm on Monday, according to officials.
The final percentage is expected to rise, as those who queued up before the 4 pm deadline were still allowed to cast their votes.
Polling took place across the five districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)—Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, and Tamulpur—without any major disturbances. Security was tightened across the region, and officials confirmed that voting passed off peacefully.
BTC chief Pramod Boro voted at Goibari in Tamulpur district, while Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president and former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary cast his ballot at Debargaon Higher Secondary School in Kokrajhar.
This election is being closely watched, as the BJP is contesting the council polls independently for the first time. Candidates from the ruling United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), led by Pramod Boro, and the BPF, headed by Mohilary, are also in the fray.
In total, 316 candidates are vying for 40 seats—30 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, five for non-STs, and five open to all categories.
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The electorate in BTR stands at 26,58,153, including 13,23,536 male voters, 13,34,600 female voters, and 17 from other genders.
Voting took place across 3,359 polling stations, with September 24 reserved for any re-polls if needed.
Counting of votes is scheduled for September 26, and the entire process will conclude by September 28.
This marks the second BTC elections since the signing of the revised Bodo Accord in New Delhi on January 27, 2020.
