Stage set for 1st phase voting in Assam, 86.47 lakh electors to decide the fate of 35 candidates in 5 seats

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 18, 2024

All preparations are afoot for the smooth conduct of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in five seats of Assam on Friday. 

In total, 35 candidates are in fray for polls for 5 seats 10-Kaziranga,11-Sonitpur,12-Lakhimpur,13-Dibrugarh and 14-Jorhat in phase 1.

Altogether 35 candidates, including two Rajya Sabha MPs, three Lok Sabha MPs and an MLA are contesting the poll. 

Among the prominent candidates, are Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is contesting from Dibrugarh, sitting Lok Sabha MP and late chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s son Gaurav Gogoi, who is contesting from Jorhat constituency.

There are a total of 86,47,869 electors in the polling constituencies. Out of these, 42,82887 are male electors, 4364859 are Female electors and 123 are third gender.

“All arrangements have been completed for the conduct of the ensuing election in a free, fair, safe and peaceful manner. We are keeping strong vigil on law and order, expenditure etc,” Assam chief electoral officer Anurag Goel told reporters here on Thursday.

“As a major push for conducting free and fair elections, live monitoring and webcasting has been arranged for monitoring of poll day proceedings as per ECI’s direction,” Goel said. 

“A total of 40,004 polling and presiding officers will be engagedand a total of 10,001 ballot units (BUs), 10,001 control unit (CUs) and 10,001 VVPATs will be used,” Goel said. 

There are 10,001 polling stations in five constituencies out of which 92 are model polling stations, 11 are PwD-managed polling stations and 752 are female-managed polling stations. Webcasting will be done in all the 5,509 polling stations. Through webcasting, ECI, CEO and district election officers will be able to monitor the polling process at the polling station live on the polling day.

Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like provision for drinking water, adequate furniture, waiting shed, toilet, adequate arrangement for lighting, provision for creche for children, proper signage, provision for ramp to facilitate the PwD voters and senior citizen electors and display of voter facilitation posters are made available at all the polling stations. 

Arrangements like transport facilities for elderly people and assistance from volunteers along with wheelchairs to PwDs electors and senior citizens voters are arranged at the polling stations. 

Mobile app-Saksham may be used by PwD voters to opt for transportation by registering online. Other IT applications like Voter Helpline App, KYC-ECI App, c VIGIL app and Election Helpline no Call 1950 are available for the benefit of the voters.

The ECI has also deputed micro-observers for critical polling stations. The mock poll shall start 90 minutes before the commencement of the poll.

“The option of postal ballot facility is extended to the senior citizens above the age of 85 years, PwDs, in addition to the persons employed in essential services,” Goel also said. 

Various awareness campaign under SVEEP with state icons DeepjyotiKeot, Siddhartha Sarma, PwD icon Rakesh Banik and SHGs of ASRLM etc. have been carried out to urge the voters to come out and cast their votes and be a part of the largest democracy. The time for poll starts at 7 am and ends at 5 pm.