70% voting in Assam

At least 70 per cent of the voters in Assam exercised their franchise yesterday in the last phase of Lok Sabha polling, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

"According to the latest figures from the election office, 70% of the voters cast their ballot and it was one of the best in the country. The elections passed off peacefully except for some minor incidents here and there," Gogoi told reporters here.

"The voter response was very good because of our development activities. There were also no major grievances against the UPA government," he said and thanked the people.

"Because of the strict vigil by police, paramilitary forces and army, they (militants) could not do much damage and the percentage of voting was high. It is a clear indication that the people of Assam have complete faith in the democratic process," he asserted.

Referring to the ULFA, Gogoi said, "It is a clear message to insurgents demanding sovereignty that the people here want to be a part of India. Their (ultras) dreams will not come true. I ask them to come for talks for solution of their problems through dialogue."