Voting under the first phase of the Assam Assembly elections will be held on March 27, which would seal the fate of state Congress Chief Ripun Borah, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Speaker Hitendranath Goswami and a host of other ministers. Polling will be held in 47 seats in a triangular contest between the ruling BJP-AGP alliance, the Congress-led Grand Alliance and the newly-formed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).

Polling for the 126-member Assembly will held in three-phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. Overall, there are 264 candidates in the fray, including 23 women.

Citizens can cast ballot from 7 am to 6 pm -- which has been extended by an hour to ensure COVID-19 protocols are followed, officials said. Central forces will assist the state police in maintaining law and order during polling, a senior police officer said. Without divulging the strength of the central forces, the official said there will be enough security personnel to cover all polling stations.

Key leaders in the fray

The Grand Alliance is contesting all seats, while the Congress has fielded candidates in just 43. The AIUDF, CPI(ML-L), RJD and Anchalik Gana Morcha (contesting as Independent) have fielded candidates in one each. The AJP will contest in 41 seats. There are 78 Independent candidates, including 19 candidates of the newly formed Raijor Dal who are also contesting as independents.

The BJP is contesting from 39 seats and its partner AGP from 10, but both parties have fielded candidates in Lakhimpur and Naharkatiya constituencies.

Three-time former MLA and ex-Congress Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu is contesting against Sonowal from Majuli (ST) seat, while outgoing speaker and BJP candidate Goswami is in a direct fight with ex-Congress MLA Rana Goswami in Jorhat.

Titabor, a high-profile seat held by Congress stalwart Tarun Gogoi for four successive terms will see a contest between Congress' Bhaskar Jyoti Barua and former MLA Hemanta Kalita. Gogoi passed away in 2020.

Meanwhile, there is an interesting contest between BJP ministers Ranjit Dutta (Behali), Naba Kumar Doley (Dhakuakha), Jogen Mohan (Mahmora), Terash Gowala (Duliajan), Sanjoy Kishan (Tinsukia); against Congress candidates and its alliance AJP.

AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta will test their fate in Bokakhat and Kaliabor respectively. Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia and state Congress President Ripun Borah are in the fray from Nazira and Gohpur, respectively.

Activist and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, who has been jailed for his alleged role in the controversial anti-CAA protests, is contesting as an independent candidate from Sivasagar. AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi is contesting from Duliajan and Naharkatiya, and is pitted against Congress and BJP nominees in both the constituencies.

Poll preparedness

In the first phase, webcasting will be done at 5,772 polling stations identified as vulnerable, critical and sensitive, besides those having a large number of voters. All voters have been asked to wear masks or will be provided one at the time of voting. COVID-19 mitigation measures like sanitisers, thermal scanners and soap will be available as part of the Assured Minimum Facilities at each polling station, Nitin Khade, the state's chief electoral officer, said.

A little over 81.09 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 11,537 polling booths, including 1,917 auxiliary polling stations, which have been created to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Women officials will exclusively conduct the exercise in 479 polling stations.

Special measures have been taken for People with Disabilities (PwD) including the provision of wheelchairs at every polling station and E-rickshaws for their commute.

With inputs from PTI

(Edited by : Jerome)

First Published:Mar 26, 2021 7:24 PM IST