Assam election LIVE: Polling ends for final phase; 82% turnout till 7 pm

Congress alliance's prospects are closely tied to the consolidation of Muslim and Bodo votes. The BJP on the other hand is counting on its welfare schemes. Stay tuned for Assam election LIVE updates

Assam election 2021: Voting is underway in third and final phase of assembly elections in Assam. 40 seats out of Assam's 126 constituencies will be voting today while 337 candidates are in the fray including 25 women. 

Among the key candidates in this phase are Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari, Assam BJP president Ranjit Dass at Paracharkuchi senior AIUDF leader Aminul Islam from Mankachar, senior Congress leader Rekibuddin Ahmed from Chaygaon, senior BPF leaders Chandra Brahma from Sidli and Pramila Brahma from Kokrajhar East.

The Congress alliance's prospects are closely tied to the consolidation of Muslim and Bodo votes, besides the anti-incumbency against BJP on the issue of unemployment and price rise. The BJP on the other hand is counting on its welfare schemes, especially those providing direct benefits to the poor.

Stay tuned for Assam election 2021 LIVE updates

9:37 PM

82.33 per cent voting recorded in final phase in Assam

An estimated 82.33 per cent of 79.2 lakh electors voted in the third and last phase of Assam Assembly election in 40 constituencies on Tuesday that largely remained peaceful except for sporadic incidents of violence and disturbances reported from some areas.

 

The percentage of polling, which took place from 7 am to 6 pm,may increase a bit with the arrival of more information, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Chandra Das said.

 

"As per the information available, the poll percentage has been estimated at 82.33 per cent," he added.

 

Polling percentage in the third round is more than the previous two which saw 79.93 and 80.96 per cent voting respectively.

 

The South Salmara district witnessed highest polling at 89.49 per cent, followed by Dhubri with 89.20 per cent and Bilasipara (87.07 per cent), official data showed.

 

Lower polling took place at Kamrup Metropolitan, which comprises the Guwahati city, at 74.42 per cent, followed by Bajali with 77.51 per cent and Baksa (78.22 per cent).

 

Altogether 337 candidates, including 25 women, are contesting in 40 constituencies in the third phase.

 

Their fate was sealed by 79,19,641 electors, including 40,11,539 males, 39,07,963 females and 139 transgenders, in 11,401 polling stations.

 

In the three-phased Assam Assembly polls for 126 constituencies, the state witnessed 79.93 per cent polling on 47 seats during the first phase on March 27 and 80.96 per cent on 39 seats during the second phase on April 1.

8:51 PM

Assam Assembly elections LIVE: Assam 82.29% voter turnout recorded till 7 pm

Assam Assembly elections LIVE: Assam 82.29% voter turnout recorded till 7 pm, according to the initial estimates of Election Commission of India

8:03 PM

Voting peaceful at Bhogdanga, polling station outside Indo-Bangla border fencing

With the hope that the new government of Assam will address their problems, Haleswar Ray on Tuesday voted for the party of his choice at the sole polling station set up outside the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing in the state's Dhubri district.

 

Ray is one of the 386 voters of the polling station at Bhogdanga, a tiny hamlet in the Gauripur assembly constituency in the district, and voting was held peacefully in the third and final phase of the elections.

 

Dhubri district, which shares 153 kms of the total 267.5 kms of Assam's border with Bangladesh, has 63 polling stations along the international boundary with 26 in Dhubri, 18 in Gauripur and 19 in Golokgunj constituencies, an official said.

7:05 PM

LIVE: Polling ends for the third and the final phase of Assam Assembly Election 2021

LIVE: Polling ends for the third and the final phase of Assam Assembly Election 2021

6:29 PM

Assam third phase polling largely peaceful

The third and last phase of the state election in Assam which is underway amidst tight security in 40 constituencies spread across 12 districts on Tuesday is largely peaceful despite sporadic incidents of violence and disturbances in some areas, officials said.

 

There were reports of a clash between two groups of people over some issues at a polling station at Dighaltari lower primary school at Golakganj. Police resorted to lathicharge and firing in the air to control the situation but none was injured, an official said.

 

The polling at the booth was stopped for a brief period and resumed soon, he said.

5:33 PM

Assam: Voters queue at a polling booth in Guwahati

4:57 PM

A centurian voter in a polling station after casting his vote

4:52 PM

Assam Depurty Speaker quizzed, 5 policemen suspended for firing on crowd during 2nd phase voting

Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar has been quizzed twice and five police personnel attached to him have been suspended after they opened fire on public during second phase of polling,officials said Tuesday.

 

At least three persons were injured in the firing by the body guards of Laskar on April 1 after clashes broke out between supporters of BJP and AIUDF inside the polling station at 463 Madhya Dhanehori LP School of Sonai constituency.

 

Police sources said Laskar was interrogated twice for several hours during the last 48 hours and his statements have been recorded in front of a magistrate.

3:58 PM

64.88 pc voter turnout witnessed in Assam polls third phase till 3.30 pm

Assam registered a voter turnout of 68.31 per cent till 3 pm. South Salmara registered the highest voter turnout with 76.25 per cent polling, while Bajali witnessed the lowest voter turnout with 54.55 per cent polling.

 

Polling in the tea-garden state of Assam began on Tuesday morning with security arrangements in place.

 

This phase will decide the fate of 337 candidates across 40 constituencies of 12 districts in the state, including the senior minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Jalukbari constituency. Biswa's constituency has witnessed 64 per cent voter turnout till 3:30 pm today.

3:54 PM

Opposition has no face in Assam: Pramod Boro

3:39 PM

First-time voters in Assam thrilled to be part of democracy

First-time voters in Assam displayed their enthusiasm by queuing up in large numbers before polling stations, much before the third phase of the assembly polls began on Tuesday, with the momentum continuing.

 

The young voters turned up in large numbers in most of the 40 constituencies spread across 12 districts.

 

In the third and last phase of state polls, there are 4,18,537 electors who are eligible to exercise their franchise for the first time.

 

Reposing their faith in democracy, the young voters said, they felt thrilled to be part of the electoral process.

 

One such voter was Nandil Biswa Sarma, 19-year-old son of Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who exercised his franchise along with his parents at Amingaon High School under Jalukbari constituency.

2:59 PM

Over 61% voter turnout till 2 pm in Assam polls

Over 61 per cent voters have exercised their franchise till 2 p.m. in the third and final phase of the Assam Assembly polls, conducted in 40 constituencies amid tight security, according to election officials.

 

Tuesday's balloting would decide the fate of 337 candidates, including 25 women aspirants.

 

All Covid-19 protocols for the voters including social distancing and thermal screening are being maintained.

 

Election officials said that no untoward incident was reported from anywhere of the 12 western Assam districts, bordering Bhutan, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh, where balloting is underway peacefully and smoothly.

2:13 PM

Polling underway peacefully in Assam, booths showcase different themes

Polling was underway peacefully amid tight security at the 40 assembly constituencies in Assam where voters were exercising their franchise in the final phase on Tuesday, officials said.

 

Voters wearing masks were seen queuing up outside polling booths, maintaining distance by standing in marked circles across the 12 districts in lower Assam where voting was underway.

11:51 AM

There're 40 seats in this phase, we are expecting to win on 22 of them: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

There're 40 seats in this phase, we are expecting to win on 22 of them, number can be higher. This elections we will win more seats. Last time we had won 84 seats, we are expecting at least 90 seats this time: Assam Minister & BJP candidate Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari

11:20 AM

Assam Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma casts his vote