The state of Assam is gearing up for the second phase of its three-phased election process, which promises to be both pivotal and fiercely contested. With five constituencies set to cast their votes on Friday, the political landscape is abuzz with anticipation as 61 candidates vie for the electorate’s favour.
Polling is scheduled to commence at 7 am and conclude at 5 pm across the constituencies of Karimganj, Silchar (SC), Diphu (ST), Nagaon, and Darrang-Udalguri. Among the prominent contenders are sitting MPs Pradyut Bordoloi of the Congress from Nagaon, BJP’s Dilip Saikia and Kripanath Malla from Darrang-Udalguri and Karimganj respectively, and Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya of the BJP from Silchar (SC).
An impressive 77.26 lakh voters, comprising 38.95 lakh males, 38.61 lakh females, and 179 third-gender individuals, are eligible to exercise their franchise across 9,133 polling stations. Tight security arrangements have been put in place, with 60 companies of security forces deployed across the five constituencies to ensure a safe and peaceful voting process.
The electoral landscape reflects a diverse array of political affiliations, with the BJP and Congress contesting in all five seats, the AIUDF in two, and the Trinamool Congress in one. However, amidst the political fervour, allegations of malpractice have surfaced, with Congress MP candidate Mira Borthakur accusing the BJP of distributing fake Arunodoi scheme forms to solicit votes.
In this phase, only two women candidates are in the fray, highlighting the need for greater gender representation in politics. Notably, the Karimganj constituency, bordering Bangladesh, boasts the highest number of candidates at 24, while Diphu (ST) has the lowest with just five candidates.
Each constituency presents unique dynamics and challenges, with varied contests shaping up. In Karimganj, a triangular battle looms between sitting BJP MP Kripanath Malla, Hafez Rashid Choudhury of Congress, and AIUDF’s Sahibul Alam Choudhury. Similarly, in Silchar, Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya faces stiff competition from Congress’s Surya Kanta Sarkar and Trinamool Congress’s Radheyshyam Biswas.
In Nagaon, the contest is set to be triangular between sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi, BJP’s Suresh Bora, and AIUDF’s Aminul Islam, while in Darrang-Udalguri, the battle is likely to be direct between sitting BJP MP Dilip Saikia and Congress candidate Madhab Rajbongshi, with Bodo Peoples’ Front candidate Durga Das Boro also expected to make a significant impact.
Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel has assured that all arrangements have been completed to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful polling process. With the first phase witnessing an impressive voter turnout of 78.25 per cent, the stakes are high as Assam braces itself for another crucial chapter in its democratic journey.
