Assembly elections 2016: High turnout in second phase keeps Assam guessing

Mangalore Today News Network

Assam, Apr 12, 2016: The Assam elections concluded Monday with a high voter turnout, 85 per cent, which was higher than in the last assembly and Lok Sabha polls. One person died when police personnel used force to disperse a crowd in Sarbhog LAC in Barpeta; other than that, polling for the 61 seats out of 126 was by and large peaceful.

 

Congress Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claimed the heavy turnout in the second phase would benefit his party, while state BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal said the BJP-led alliance would gain. The first phase in 65 seats had recorded 82 per cent polling, with various reports indicating that the BJP-led alliance was ahead there. “The people have voted for change, and we are forming the government,” Sonowal said Monday. And Gogoi said, “The large turnout is a reflection of the changed academic atmosphere and development of education scenario in the state during the last 15 years. I am confident we will form the government again,” he said.

“Yes, I voted for change,” said Dipali Barman of Juripar, who won a medal for being among the first five voters in the Ganesh Mandir HS School polling station.

In Dhubri, Jesmin Sultana, 19, was among the first five at Dhubri Girls’ Academy. “I voted for a change. Dhubri has sent an AIUDF MLA twice since 2006, but the condition of our town has gone from bad to worse,” Jesmin said over the telephone. Asked if change means Congress or BJP, she retorted, “Why should I tell you?”

In Sarbhog, Abdul Rashid, 90, died after a cane-charge by central forces when a crowd had pelted stones at them. “There was a scuffle between voters and central personnel on duty. The crowd began pelting stones, injuring an officer and a jawan. The security personnel used force, during which an old man sustained injuries and later died in a hospital,” said additional CEO Nitin Kumar Shivdas Khade.

Political observers in Guwahati wouldn’t hazard a guess as to which party would gain. “There has been heavy voting in all constituencies including those dominated by the Muslims. While the urban areas look like having been swept by a BJP-alliance wave, there was also a sharp polarisation of Muslim votes, which might go in favour of the Congress,” said Bhupen Sarma, director of the OKD Institute of Social Change and Development here. At least 28 of the 61 seats in the second phase have a Muslim majority, and if the Congress has gained at the expense of the AIUDF which had won 15 of the phase-2 seats in 2011, then it is neck-and-neck between the Congress and the BJP, he said.

Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta too claimed the BJP-led alliance had an edge over the Congress and AIUDF. “I am sure there will be a non-Congress government after 15 years,” said Mahanta, who voted in Guwahati.