GUWAHATI: Polling stations across Northeast buzzed with activity as citizens flocked to cast their votes in the ongoing parliamentary elections o Friday.
Seven constituencies, including five in Assam and one each in Manipur and Tripura, are currently undergoing polling.
By 11 am, a significant voter turnout of approximately 33% was recorded in the seven constituencies.
Assam reported a polling percentage of 27.43%, Manipur at 33.22%, and Tripura leading with 36.42%, indicating an enthusiastic response from voters.
Since the early hours of the morning, long queues have formed outside polling stations as people eagerly participate in the electoral process.
In Assam’s second phase of parliamentary elections, constituencies like Darrang-Udalguri, Diphu, Karimganj, Nagaon, and Silchar witnessed polling percentages 28.81%, 30.82%, 29.99%, 25.29%, and 23.20%, respectively.
Notably, Muslim voters hold sway in Nagaon and Karimganj, making these constituencies closely watched in the second phase of polls.
In the 2019 elections, four out of the five seats currently polling were won by the BJP.
In Manipur, the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency saw a surge in polling activity after 9 am, with a turnout of 33.22% recorded by 11 am.
This marks a significant increase compared to less than 15% polling in the first two hours, indicating a growing participation as the day progresses.
Notably, in the first phase of the polling, Manipur had recorded about 68% turnout amidst reports of violence and booth-capturing.
Meanwhile, in Tripura, polling is underway for the East Tripura constituency, where close to 14 lakh electorates are expected to exercise their franchise.
This tribal constituency has garnered attention, with the BJP alliance fielding Kriti Devi Debbarma, sister of Tipra Motha Chief Pradyut Debbarma, while the INDIA alliance candidate is former communist party MLA Rajendra Reang.
