Nearly 30 lakh people will exercise their Right to Vote in three lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday, which will be held in Silchar, Karimganj and in Diphu (Autonomous District) constituency.
According to the official statistics, a total of 29,26,762 electorates are expected to cast their votes in 3,698 polling stations in the three lok Sabha constituencies, out of which two are reserved for ST and SC candidates respectively.
While the Karimganj lok Sabha constituency is reserved for Schedule Caste (SC), the Diphu (Autonomous District) constituency is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST). Meanwhile, the number of voters in Silchar is 10,61,623, including 5,07,397 women, there are a total of 11,63,871 voters in Karimganj lok Sabha constituency.
There are 5,50,234 female electorates in Karimganj lok Sabha constituency. In Diphu lok Sabha constituency there are 7,01,268 voters, which includes 3,42,963 women. A total of 60 polling stations in the three constituencies have already been identified as sensitive and a total of 8,880 personnel of the Assam police had already been deployed to ensure smooth polling.
Apart from this, 204.58 companies of the Central paramilitary forces have already been deployed as per requirement to ensure smooth polling in all the three lok Sabha constituencies.
A total of 17,538 polling personnel will conduct the polls tomorrow, officials said adding that 68 polling stations in the three constituencies had been brought under web casting mechanism.
Among the prominent candidates contesting the Silchar constituency, are outgoing sitting MP Kabindra Purkayastha (BJP), Congress MlA from Silchar legislative Assembly constituency Sushmita Deb and Kutub Ahmed Mazumder of the AIUDF.
Although there are 17 candidates in the fray in Silchar, the main contest is likely to be between the BJP and the Congress. While Purkayastha is popular, Sushmita, who is the daughter of veteran Congress leader Santosh Mohan Deb, is also expected to give a tough fight to win.
In Karimganj, it is likely to be a triangular contest involving the BJP, the Congress and the AIUDF. While BJP has fielded Krishna Das, Congress has fielded outgoing MP lalit Mohon Suklabaidya in the constituency. AIUDF, which also has considerable presence in the constituency, has fielded Radheshyam Biswas.
However, in Diphu it will be a straight contest between the BJP and Congress. While the Congress’ sitting MP Biren Sing Engty is seeking a re-election, the BJPhas pitted against him his former aide Joyram Engleng.