Guwahati: Altogether, 7,96,456 general electors in the five Assam assembly constituencies will exercise their democratic rights while casting votes for their preferred candidates in 28-Gossaigaon 41-Bhabanipur, 58-Tamulpur, 101-Mariani and 107-Thowra seats, where the polling is scheduled for 30 October and counting for 2 November next.
Out of these, 4,03,374 are male, 3,93,078 female, 4 transgender people and 3,165 service voters, informed State electoral authority. There are 8,864 general electors above 80 years of age. During the special summary revision of the electoral roll begun on 18 November 2020 with reference to 1 January 2021 as the qualifying date, 43,229 electors were newly included in the list.
The constituency with the highest number of electors in the ensuing bye-election emerges as Tamulpur (2,17,432 voters), whereas the lowest number of electors are recorded in Thowra (1,15,971). State chief electoral officer Nitin Khade urges all concerned to cast their votes in the ensuing bye-polls following the Covid-19 restrictions, where EVMs and VVPATs will be used.
With the polls only a few days away, preparations are going in full swing in all constituencies. Khade visited Gossaigaon on Friday to assess the readiness for the upcoming bye-polls. He also chaired a review meeting there in the presence of Kokrajhar district magistrate Barnali Deka, district election officer Rahul Gupta, Kokrajhar and Baksa districts' police chiefs Prateek Thube and Abhijit Gurav, with others.
While the electoral photo identity cards shall be the main document of identification of a voter, the elector can also use an Aadhar card, MNREGA job card, passbooks with photographs issued by the bank/postal authority, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of labour ministry, driving license, PAN card, Indian passport, pension document with photograph, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees, etc. for the same.
The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded three newly inducted leaders who had migrated from the opposition Congress and AIUDF. Bye-polls were necessitated because of their resignations after the State assembly polls in March-April 2021.
Mariani legislator Rupjyoti Kurmi and Thowra representative Sushanta Borgohain left the Congress and now stand as BJP candidates in respective constituencies. Similarly, the Bhabanipur legislator Phanidhar Talukdar left the AIUDF and now stands for re-election as a BJP representative. However, the Gossaigaon seat was vacated due to its legislator Majendra Narzary's death in May 2021, and Tamulpur legislator Leho Ram Boro also expired during the same month. Majuli assembly constituency is not named in the list as the Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal resigned as its legislator a little late after his election to the Rajya Sabha from Assam.
The BJP has 59 legislators in the 126-member state legislative assembly, whereas its allies, Asom Gana Parishad, has nine MLAs, and United People's Party Liberal has five legislators. The opposition Congress has 27 legislators, and AIUDF has 15 MLAs. Bodoland People's Front has 3 legislators, and CPI(M) has one member. The assembly also has one independent legislator.
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