Assam: BJP leads in Majuli assembly by-election

Ruling BJP alliance candidate Bhuban Gam is ahead of his nearest rival, Assam Jatiya Parishad(AJP) joint opposition candidate Chittaranjan Basumatary by nearly 17,000 votes in the by-elections in Assam’s Majuli Assembly constituency, officials said on Thursday.

Gam received 27,006 votes, while Basumatary received 10,173 votes. Bhaity Richong  of SUCI-C came third with 698 votes, while 666 votes were polled for NOTA.

In the March 7 election, 71.76 per cent of the total 1.33 lakh voters exercised their franchise.

The election came after the resignation of Union Minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on September 27 last year.

He was elected to the State Assembly twice in a row from this seat.