By Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI, OCT 6: Around 76 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election on Tuesday, with Samaguri recording the highest turnout of 80.22 per cent. Polling passed off peacefully across the constituency, barring EVM glitches at a couple of booths and a few stray incidents.
Polling began at 7 am, with long queues seen at several polling stations from the morning. Voting was still under way at around 42 booths when the initial turnout figure was compiled, indicating that the final percentage could rise slightly.
Samaguri recorded the highest turnout at 80.22 per cent, followed by Lahorighat at 78.88 per cent, Dhing at 77.93 per cent and Rupahihat at 77.67 per cent. Jagiroad recorded 76.62 per cent, Morigaon 72.85 per cent and Nagaon-Batadrava 72.01 per cent. Raha recorded the lowest turnout at 70.29 per cent.
BJP candidate Debashish Sharma cast his vote at Mayong Higher Secondary School in Morigaon and said the turnout showed that people were coming out to strengthen democracy and seek development.
“This is a good sign for Indian democracy,” Sharma said.Reacting to AIUDF candidate Badruddin Ajmal’s allegations about EVMs, Sharma said the remarks reflected apprehension over defeat and rejected the allegations.
Congress candidate Shibamoni Bora voted at Jajori Majgaon Upper Primary School and expressed confidence that the Congress would win the bypoll by a huge margin.
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Piyush Hazarika cast his vote at Marakalong Primary School in Ahatguri, while Nagaon-Batadrava MLA Rupak Sharma voted at Kiranbala Girls’ High School. Rupak Sharma said polling was peaceful and that people wanted development.
Former Nagaon MP and Dispur MLA Pradyut Bordoloi voted at Marikalong Higher Secondary School and claimed that the mood at polling stations indicated a BJP victory. He said the Congress was likely to finish third, alleging that the party’s leadership had failed to unite its workers and win back public confidence.
Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain and Samaguri MLA Tanzil Hussain cast their votes at Karaiguri Middle School. Raha MLA Sashikanta Das voted at Salmara LP School, Rupahihat MLA Nurul Huda at Roumari Mokhtar polling station, Morigaon MLA Ramakanta Deori at Nadalbari Primary School in Sabukdhara and Dhing MLA Mehboob Mukhtar at Hatimuria Boys’ JB School.Security arrangements were tightened across the constituency. EVM glitches delayed polling at one or two locations but did not affect the overall conduct of the election.
District Commissioner and Returning Officer Aranyak Saikia visited several sensitive polling stations to review the arrangements and interact with polling personnel.
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