The second and last phase of panchayat polls in Assam on Sunday not only saw a huge turnout as in the first phase but also incidents of ballot box snatching and clashes among rivals.
“Around 72 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5pm and it is expected go up,” state election commissioner H.N. Bora said.
He said voting was under way at 50 to 60 per cent of the polling stations at 6pm as a large number of people were still standing in queues when the official polling time ended at 3pm.
According to Bora, the final polling percentage will not be lower than 80.
Some districts which saw a high percentage of voting till 5pm were Dhubri (86 per cent) and South Salmara (80 per cent).
Elections were held in 10 districts — Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj and Hojai.
The first phase of the elections, held in 16 districts on December 5, witnessed a turnout of around 80 per cent.
“Barring a few minor incidents, polling went off peacefully,” the state election commissioner said.
“Incidents of group clashes and miscreants snatching ballot boxes and tearing up ballot papers were reported from Cachar and Karimganj districts, particularly in areas bordering Mizoram,” he said.
He said repolling is likely to be ordered in around eight polling stations in Cachar district and seven in Karimganj district.
“In a polling station in Nalbari district, there was some confusion due to a mistake by the presiding officer in issuing ballot papers. Repolls are likely to be held there,” he said.
“However, the exact number of polling stations where repolls will be held will be known only after we receive written proposals from the deputy commissioners,” he said.
Bora said for the second phase, 292 candidates were uncontested, which include 10 anchalik panchayat members, two gaon panchayat presidents and 280 gaon panchayat members.
The repoll for the second phase will be held on Tuesday. Repolling in 27 polling booths of the first phase in Lakhimpur district will be held on Monday.
The counting of votes will begin at 8am on Wednesday.
“There will be a counting hall for each zila parishad constituency,” he said.
The three districts of Barak Valley recorded above 75 per cent turnout till the filing of this report.
Women voters outside a booth in Dhubri on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos
Cachar district recorded more than 76 per cent while Karimganj and Hailakandi recorded 75 per cent and 78 per cent turnout respectively.
In Dhalai of Cachar district, miscreants snatched the ballot papers and beat up poll officials, at 610 Channighat LP School. The police brought the situation under control.
In Karimganj district, at least 15 people were injured in stray incidents of poll violence.
A Toyota Innova of a Congress worker was damaged on Saturday night at Fakirbazar in Karimganj.
One assistant engineer was suspended for wrongly printed ballot papers.
In Alamkhal Maktab of Nilambazar of Karimganj, two ballot boxes were snatched.
At Ratawala LP School under Dhalcherra gaon panchayat of south Karimganj, one person allegedly voted for the entire family.
At Ratabari, miscreants snatched 1,200 ballot papers. In Sahabad ME School, father of an Independent candidate ran away with the ballot papers.
Hailakandi district recorded around 78 per cent turnout. The figures may go up later.
Barring some incidents of ballot-box snatching and wrong printing of the symbol of an Independent candidate, polling was peaceful.
Election observer Nirmal Kanti Debnath thanked the people of the district for coming out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. “Repolls will be decided only after we get reports from the zonal and sector officers,” he added.
Additional reporting by our correspondent in Hailakandi