Assam records 85.21 pc polling, CM says high voter turnout 'not ordinary but historic'

Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies ended at 5 pm on Thursday, with an estimated voter turnout of 85.21 per cent, surpassing the previous figure of 82.04 per cent in the 2021 elections, officials said.

The polling percentage was expected to rise further as people who had entered the booths before 5 pm would be allowed to vote, they said.

The poll percentage in 16 constituencies, mostly in minority-dominated areas, have already crossed the 90-per cent mark, while 83 constituencies are in the range of 80-89 per cent and the remainder in the 70-79 per cent category, the officials said.

Dalgaon recorded the highest voter turnout at 95.53 per cent, while New Guwahati registered the lowest at 72.05 per cent, they said.

A total of 722 candidates are in the fray for the elections, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress.

The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power in Assam, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.

Altogether, 2.50 crore people were eligible to exercise their franchise, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender. Voting was held in 31,490 polling stations across the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the high voter turnout as ''not ordinary but historic".

Sarma said the result of this election is “already visible – in the hope, pride, and happiness on the faces of our people”.

“What we set out to do was not merely fight an election, but to turn it into a movement – a movement to protect our civilisational values, our culture, and our land,” he said in a post on X.

“Today, for the first time, our people have come out in unprecedented numbers – voting shoulder to shoulder, matching and even surpassing our opponents in turnout. In many polling booths, participation is crossing 95 per cent. This is not ordinary. This is historic,” the CM asserted.

Sarma said Assam has risen above language and caste, and "our people have voted with one clear resolve – to protect our land, our identity, and our culture from illegal infiltration and demographic aggression".

“This is not just an election. This is a watershed moment in Assam’s history,” he said.

Sarma added that the message is loud and clear: ''Assam will not surrender, Assam will fight, Assam will survive, Assam will endure.''

Assam Pradesh Congress President Gaurav Gogoi, in a statement, thanked the people for turning out in unprecedented numbers to vote for a “change” in the state.

The people of Assam voted with the hope of a "New Bor-Asom" (New and Greater Assam) and new leadership, Gogoi said.

''It is now the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure the security of the EVMs and to conduct an accurate vote count on May 4," he said.

Voting began at 7 am and was held in 31,490 polling stations across the state's 35 districts.

Among the heavyweight candidates are Sarma, Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi.

The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA constituents Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) are contesting 26 and 11 seats, respectively.

In the opposition bloc, the Raijor Dal is contesting 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) 10, CPI(M) three and the APHLC two. Other parties in the fray include AAP (18), UPPL (18), TMC (22), JMM (16), besides 258 Independents.

Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel expressed gratitude to all for their active participation and cooperation, “which contributed significantly to the successful conduct of polling”.

The presence of a large number of people at polling booths even after 5 pm reflects the public awareness and enthusiasm towards voting, he said.