Nearly 77.27 per cent of 73.45 lakh voters exercised their franchise in 39 Assembly seats in Assam during the second phase of polling on Thursday.
According to the EC, Bokajan recorded 76.25 per cent turnout; Cachar 72.28 per cent; Darrang 80.81 per cent; Dima Hasao 74 per cent; Hailakandi 78.94 per cent; Hojai 75.71 per cent; Karbi Anglong 75.93 per cent; Karimganj 73.02 per cent; Morigaon 84.03 per cent; Nagaon 77.25 per cent; Nalbari 86.69 per cent; Rangia 73.38 per cent.
Meanwhile, the EC issued a showcause notice to Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making threatening remarks against Opposition leader Hagrama Mohilary of the Bodoland People’s Front.
He has been asked to respond to the notice by 5 pm on April 2.
The EC data shows that Assembly constituencies Sipajhar recorded 83.30 per cent voter turnout, Nalbari 86.69 per cent, Marigaon 81.24 per cent, Laharighat 87.29 per cent, Katlicherra 80 per cent, Kalaigaon 80.87 per cent, Jagiroad 83.72 per cent and Dalgaon 81.70 per cent.
Reacting to the EC’s notice, the AIUDF leader Maulana Badruddin Ajmal tweeted that Sarma scared of losing election, that’s why using NIA as a threat. His statement came as a reaction to the EC’s notice against Sarma over allegedly making threatening remarks against Opposition leader Hagrama Mohilary of the Bodoland People’s Front.
The second phase of elections were conducted for 39 Assembly Constituencies in Assam. More than 73 lakh electorates across 10,592 polling Stations are registered to exercise their franchise in this phase. The election and police officials said that no incident of violence was reported so far from the 13 districts.
There were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations and upon their immediate replacement voting continued uninterrupted, an election official said. A significant number of women voters were seen turning up early to exercise their franchise. At most places, voters were found wearing masks and maintaining social distancing as they stood inside the rings drawn at six-ft distance outside the polling stations.
According to the EC, a total number of 1,306 cases of Model Code of Conduct violations were reported through the cVIGIL app from Assam out of which 927 were disposed as on 4.30 pm.
Around 31,000 Central Armed Police Force personnel, along with thousands of State security force personnel, have been deployed to maintain law and order during this phase in which 42,368 polling personnel are engaged. Among the prominent candidates who have voted are Karimganj (North) MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purakayastha of Congress and his BJP opponent Manash Das, BJP’s Nalbari candidate Jayanta Malla Baruah, UPPL’s Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, and former Asam Sahitya Sabha president and BJP candidate from Sipajhar Paramanda Rajbongshi.
In its notice to Sarma, the EC said “...the Commission is, prima facie, of the view that that Sarma has violated the above said provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. Now, therefore, the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your position in making above statement on or before 5 pm of April 2, failing which the Commission shall take a decision without any further reference to you”.
The notice was issued by the EC following a complaint filed by the Congress party against Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making threatening remarks against Opposition leader Hagrama Mohilary of the Bodoland People’s Front. The Bodoland People’s Front is an ally of the Congress in Assam.
Assembly elections in Assam are being held in three phases. While the first phase was on March 27, voting in the second phase is underway on Thursday. The last phase is on April 6.
The notice to Sarma cited various provisions of the model code, including the one dealing with refraining from making unverified allegations against political rivals and, avoiding “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters. It also quoted transcript of the speech provided by the State election machinery.
“If Hagrama does extremism with Batha he will go to jail. This is a straight talk. If Hagrama encourages Batha, he will go to jail. Already got lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA,” according to a portion of Sarma’s speech made part of the notice.