Polling underway in 80 civic bodies across Assam

Polling for 80 civic bodies across Assam is underway on Sunday amid tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, an official said.

Voting began at 8 a.m. in 977 wards in 24 districts of the northeastern state and will continue until 4 p.m.

The State Election Commission official said that the polling has been peaceful so far.

Long queues were seen outside many booths as people rushed to cast their votes.

For the first time in the history of local body elections in the state, electronic voting machines are being used.

The fate of 2,532 candidates will be decided by the ruling BJP, with 825 candidates in the fray.

The official said that at least 706 candidates are contesting on Congress tickets, while Asom Gana Parishad has nominated 243 candidates.

“Local body elections are an important step towards ensuring public participation in the governance of urban areas. As the local body elections are taking place in Assam today, I want everyone to exercise their democratic right to determine their own future. “I appeal to you,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Twitter.

The number of eligible voters is 16,73,899, of which 8,41,534 are women and 17 are eunuchs.

Both the ruling and opposition parties in the state were doing their best to attract voters during the full-fledged civic election campaign.

The vote count will take place on March 9.