GUWAHATI: Urban elections to 80 municipal boards in Assam will be held on Sunday. Elections were scheduled to be held in 977 municipal wards, but in 57 wards, the candidates, mostly BJPhave won uncontested.
Voting is going to be held in EVMs for the first time in any local body election in Assam. Counting of votes will be held on March 9. “The use of EVMs will help in the early declaration of results,” said an official of the state election commission. A total of 2,532 candidates are in the fray, with the highest 825 contesting from the BJP. Congress has fielded 706 candidates, whereas 243 are nominated by the AGP.
The CPM has fielded 14 candidates and the rest are independents and from other parties. A total 16.73 lakh (16,73,899) voters are registered to exercise their franchise in the urban polls. Of them, 8,32,348 are males, whereas 8,41,534 females and 17 are transgenders. Polling will be held between 8 am and 4 pm. Polling was slated to be held in 2,054 polling stations across the state. Like in the assembly polls and general elections, photo electoral rolls have been published for the municipal election.
State election commissioner Alok Kumar said distribution of polling materials and EVMs were almost over by Saturday afternoon and election officials left for their places of duty. “The areas where the municipal elections are going to be held are town locations. These are more secure places and have better police protection. The state police are manning this election,” Kumar told TOI.
He said armed guards are being provided by Assam Police in polling material distribution and collection centres, and counting halls. He said a minimum of one police personnel and one home guard will be present at each polling station. Kumar, however, informed that depending on the number of voters, the deployment may vary. “We have not got information of any polling station which is extremely sensitive, where the law and order situation may deteriorate,” Kumar added.
Campaign for the urban polls got a major boost with the improvement in the Covid situation in the state. Mammoth rallies were taken out by various parties, with supporters dancing to the tune of Bihu songs in various districts. Door-to-door campaign policy was adopted by political parties to reach out to the maximum number of voters. State level leaders also campaigned in various municipal board areas to convince the voters about the assurances given by their candidates.
Voting is going to be held in EVMs for the first time in any local body election in Assam. Counting of votes will be held on March 9. “The use of EVMs will help in the early declaration of results,” said an official of the state election commission. A total of 2,532 candidates are in the fray, with the highest 825 contesting from the BJP. Congress has fielded 706 candidates, whereas 243 are nominated by the AGP.
The CPM has fielded 14 candidates and the rest are independents and from other parties. A total 16.73 lakh (16,73,899) voters are registered to exercise their franchise in the urban polls. Of them, 8,32,348 are males, whereas 8,41,534 females and 17 are transgenders. Polling will be held between 8 am and 4 pm. Polling was slated to be held in 2,054 polling stations across the state. Like in the assembly polls and general elections, photo electoral rolls have been published for the municipal election.
State election commissioner Alok Kumar said distribution of polling materials and EVMs were almost over by Saturday afternoon and election officials left for their places of duty. “The areas where the municipal elections are going to be held are town locations. These are more secure places and have better police protection. The state police are manning this election,” Kumar told TOI.
He said armed guards are being provided by Assam Police in polling material distribution and collection centres, and counting halls. He said a minimum of one police personnel and one home guard will be present at each polling station. Kumar, however, informed that depending on the number of voters, the deployment may vary. “We have not got information of any polling station which is extremely sensitive, where the law and order situation may deteriorate,” Kumar added.
Campaign for the urban polls got a major boost with the improvement in the Covid situation in the state. Mammoth rallies were taken out by various parties, with supporters dancing to the tune of Bihu songs in various districts. Door-to-door campaign policy was adopted by political parties to reach out to the maximum number of voters. State level leaders also campaigned in various municipal board areas to convince the voters about the assurances given by their candidates.