AGARTALA: Violence marred polling in several parts of Assam on Thursday during the state’s single-phase assembly elections, with clashes reported from Patharkandi, Khowang, Sivasagar, Tamulpur and multiple other constituencies, even as over 2.49 crore voters turned out in large numbers to decide the fate of 722 candidates contesting 126 seats.
Polling for all constituencies was held on Thursday, April 9, from 7 am to 5 pm, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 2.49 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise, choosing from 722 candidates across the state. The elections were conducted in a single phase this year, a significant shift from the three-phase exercise held in 2021, as reported by Assam Tribune.
Also read Tripura By-Poll Records 80% Turnout, But Polls Marred by Agent Removal and Journalist Threats
The most serious polling day incident was reported from Patharkandi constituency in Cachar, where a violent clash broke out at Booth No. 513 in Rangamati Primary School, halting voting for nearly two hours. According to authorities, Congress candidate Kartik Chandra Sinha was involved in the incident, during which the EVM was damaged and an attempt was made to steal the machine from inside the booth.
Around 15 BJP workers, including women, were reportedly injured in the clash, with polling agents allegedly targeted first. Police, led by Superintendent Leena Doley, reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Polling later resumed with a replacement EVM under heavy security, according to Deccan Chronicle.
In Assam’s Khowang constituency, a confrontation between Asom Jatiya Parishad and BJP supporters disrupted polling and left several people injured, including BJP’s Jharkhand in-charge Prahlad Pandey, who was reportedly caught in the altercation. According to One India, BJP supporters subsequently staged a protest by blocking a four-lane national highway in the area, demanding arrests of those they held responsible for the attack. Police and senior officials intervened to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, according to The Print, violence also took place in Tamulpur and Sivasagar on Wednesday night, hours before polling commenced. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh told PTI that police reached the Tamulpur clash site promptly and fired rounds in the air to disperse the mob, leading to four arrests.
In Sivasagar, two to three members of a political party were attacked and three persons were detained. Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, who is contesting from the Sibsagar seat, alleged that BJP nominee Kushal Dowari was behind the Sivasagar attack. In all, seven persons were held in election-related violence across the state, as reported by PTI.
Additionally, according to Asombarta, KMSS General Secretary Bidhyut Bikash Saikia was allegedly attacked and seriously injured during the election period, with Akhil Gogoi blaming “Kushal Duwari’s goons” linked to the BJP. An FIR was filed at Sivasagar Police Station against several named individuals.
Minor clashes were also reported from Sribhumi, Golaghat, Nagaon, Merapani and Raha, where supporters of rival parties clashed at polling stations. According to officials quoted by The Print, most of those clashes were triggered by heavy crowd rush and queue-breaking, and police present at the spots handled the situations quickly.
Also read | Tripura By-Poll: CPI(M) Versus Congress Could Hand BJP the Win Neither Can Claim Alone
On the technical front, an EVM glitch delayed voting at polling station number 120 in Tinsukia constituency, while voting was yet to commence at Sukhani English Primary School in Bokajan for a period, according to Asombarta. The Election Commission said replacement machines were available and disruptions were resolved without significant delay.
In a somber development, a polling officer was found dead during duty in Sonitpur district. According to PTI and Deccan Chronicle, Deben Horo (45), posted as the second polling officer at station number 230 in Dolapani LP School in the Naduar constituency, was found unconscious in his bed and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Doctors suspected an underlying medical condition. Horo, an assistant teacher at a government school, hailed from Dopdopi Kachari Gaon in the Chariduar revenue circle.
Despite the disturbances, voter participation remained notably high. According to ECI data reported by Republic World and The Federal, Assam recorded 59.63 per cent turnout by 1 pm, 75.91 per cent by 3 pm, 84.42 per cent by 5 pm, and a final figure of approximately 85.58 per cent, surpassing the 82.04 per cent recorded in 2021.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, contesting from Jalukbari, offered prayers at the Kamakhya Devi temple and the Doulgovinda Temple before casting his vote at polling station number 15, accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and children. Congress president and Jorhat candidate Gaurav Gogoi, who is leading the party’s charge against the BJP, also cast his vote and said, according to India TV News, “The smiles on the faces of the people indicate that we will see a new Assam on May 4.”
Also read | “Withdraw Your Candidate” — Congress Demands CPI(M) Back Down in Tripura
The core contest in this election is between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which includes the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People’s Front, and the Congress-led Asom Sonmilito Morcha, which has allied with Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad and CPI(M). According to Outlook India, Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90, while 258 independents are also in the fray. The fate of key figures including AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal’s Akhil Gogoi will also be known when counting takes place on May 4.