News Analysis India

Tag: Assam Assembly polls

  • Assam polls: Congress mulling to move candidates on ‘fears of poaching’

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Apprehending poaching by the BJP, the Congress is trying to keep its Assam flocks together ahead of the declaration of Assembly election results on May 2.

    The Congress leaders held a closed-door meeting with party candidates at a hotel on the outskirts of Guwahati on Saturday, so what transpired there was not known.

    The party said one must not read too much into it as only “general discussions” were held on the preparation for the counting day. The meeting comes amidst reports that the Congress has plans to shift the candidates to some hotels in Guwahati, Tezpur, and Kaziranga on April 22 and keep them out of bounds from poachers.

    The three-phase polls, held in March and April, were keenly contested between the BJP-led ruling coalition, which also has Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal, and the Congress-led 10-party grand alliance of Opposition.

    The Congress tried to put up a brave face by exuding confidence that it will get the majority and as such, had no fears about horse-trading.

    ALSO READ | Online census to distinguish Assamese Muslims from migrant Muslims launched 

    “The Mahajot (grand alliance) will get a big majority and its candidates are not going anywhere,” AICC general secretary and in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh told journalists ahead of the meeting.

    Given some past incidents, the Congress leadership gave certain directions to party candidates on the preparation for the counting day.

    “We have no trust in the Election Commission. We all know that 171 votes were cast in a booth that had 90 eligible voters. Also, a polled EVM was retrieved from the car of a BJP candidate (who is also an MLA),” Singh said.

    The candidates of Congress ally All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had returned to the state on Friday night from Rajasthan as the COVID cases were increasing exponentially there.

    Singh said, “They had gone to Rajasthan after a hectic schedule of the election campaign and returned to Assam after offering their prayers at the Ajmer Sharif”.

    An AIUDF candidate said they had a discussion with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during their stay in that state.

    Earlier, another AIUDF candidate, Aminul Islam had expressed apprehension that the BJP might try to cobble up numbers by indulging in horse-trading after the declaration of election results. He had pointed out the party had adopted this tactic in several states, including Meghalaya, Manipur, and Goa.

  • Assam elections: ECI orders repolling in four booths on April 20 after seizure of EVM from MLA’s car

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India on Saturday ordered repolling in four polling booths of Assam. Repolling will be held at the polling stations in Ratabari, Sonai and Haflong constituencies on April 20, the ECI said in a letter addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam. “The Commission declares void, the votes cast at these polling stations on April 1,” it said.

    All the three constituencies went to polls in the second phase of Assam assembly elections on April 1.

    The ECI order said, repolling will be held at Ratabari (SC) contituency’s polling station number 149 at Indira MV School, after an electronic voting machine (EVM) was found in a car belonging to the wife of a BJP candidate.

    A magisterial probe was ordered by Karimganj district Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer to enquire as to why a polling team in Assam carried a polled EVM in a vehicle owned by the wife of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Krishnendu Paul.

    In an auxiliary polling station at 107(A)-Khothlir LP School under Haflong assembly constituency, 171 votes were cast even though 90 people were eligible to exercise their franchise.

    The presiding and first polling officer in their statements had admitted that they had allowed the voters registered at the main polling station at 107-Mouldam LP School to cast their votes at the auxiliary polling station.

    Repolling has also been ordered in Sonai constituencys 463- Madhya Dhanehori LP School polling booth where at least three persons were injured in an incident of firing, following which the state’s deputy speaker and BJP candidate Aminul Haque Laskar was questioned by the police and five police personnel attached to him were suspended.

  • Congress-alliance candidates from Assam shifted to Jaipur, party fears ‘horse trading’

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: About 20 candidates of the Congress-led alliance in the Assam Assembly polls were flown to Jaipur on Friday with the party claiming it feared “horse trading” by the BJP.

    According to sources, most of the candidates belong to the Congress alliance partner All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

    They were taken to Hotel Fairmont on the outskirts of Jaipur.

    It is the same hotel where Rajasthan Congress MLAs were lodged during a political crisis triggered by the rebellion of party leader Sachin Pilot against CM Ashok Gehlot last year.

    “Around 20 candidates have been shifted to Jaipur from Assam today,” said Congress chief whip in the Rajasthan Assembly, Mahesh Joshi.

    “The candidates were brought here as a precautionary measure looking at several incidents in the past when the party could not form government due to horse trading by the BJP despite having majority,” another Congress leader said.

    He said the candidates were shifted to Jaipur so that the BJP could not make any attempt to influence them.

    The three-phase Assam Assembly elections concluded on April 6 and the results will be out on May 2.

  • Assam polls: Final phase records 82.28% voters’ turnout

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The third and final phase Assam polls on Tuesday recorded a voters’ turnout of 82.28%.

    The first two phases of polling in 47 and 39 constituencies had recorded voters’ turnout of 79.97% and 80.96% respectively.

    Forty of the state’s 126 constituencies, spread across 12 districts of Lower Assam, went to polls on Tuesday. In the 2016 elections, BJP and Congress had won 11 of these seats each, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) six, Bodoland People’s Front eight, and Asom Gana Parishad four.

    Polling was by and large peaceful although there were some stray incidents of violence. The police had to use force when two groups of people clashed over some issues at a polling station in the Golakganj constituency in Dhubri district.

    At Guptipara in Bilasipara West constituency, also in Dhubri district, a group of people attacked security personnel over the distribution of free masks. The police restored order by resorting to lathicharge.

    ALSO READ | HIGHLIGHTS | Final phase of polling concludes in Assam, five more rounds of ‘khela’ left in Bengal

    The police used batons also outside a polling booth in Bongaigaon to restore order after a large crowd arrived leading to a commotion.

    Siramjit Rabha, a 92-year-old voter, who said he has been voting since independence, was felicitated by election officials after he had cast his vote at the Kothakuthi Lower Primary School under the Dudhnai constituency in Goalpara district.

    Of Assam’s 2,33,74,087 voters, 2,89,474 were aged 80 years or above and 1,38,290 were voters with disabilities.

    Meanwhile, Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar was interrogated twice in the past 48 hours in connection with an incident of firing by his bodyguards on April 1. Five of them were suspended.

    Three people were injured when the personnel opened fire after clashes had broken out between BJP and AIUDF supporters at a polling station in the Sonai constituency.

  • Assam polls: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slams ‘irresponsible’ EC, BJP’s negative politics

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With the final phase of the assembly elections in Assam taking place on Tuesday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that at a time when there is an “irresponsible” Election Commission and negative politics is being played by the ruling BJP, the people of Assam will choose the path of guarantee of development and progress.

    Polling for 40 seats in the final phase of the assembly elections in Assam is underway and it will decide the fate of 337 candidates. In a Facebook post in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Today is the last phase of elections in Assam. I appeal to all my sisters and brothers to vote in large numbers to strengthen the democratic process.”

    आज असम में अंतिम चरण का चुनाव है। मेरी सभी मतदाता बहनों-भाइयों से अपील है कि लोकतांत्रिक प्रक्रिया को मजबूत करने के लिए भारी संख्या में मतदान करें।मुझे पूरा विश्वास है असम की जनता आज प्रगति व उन्नति की गारंटी का रास्ता चुनेगी।
    — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 6, 2021

    “At a time when there is an irresponsible Election Commission (EC) and negative politics is being played by the ruling party, the people of Assam will choose the path of guarantee of development and progress,” the Congress general secretary said.

    The Congress-led Opposition has been raising questions over the EC’s neutrality and functioning in the Assam polls.

    The party had on Friday questioned the poll panel after a BJP candidate’s vehicle was found transporting a polled EVM in Assam’s Karimganj district and said if the poll body does not wake up now and remains “complicit” it will be fatal for democracy.

    The Congress on Saturday had hit out at the EC for reducing the campaign ban on Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and said it was a dark day for parliamentary democracy and history will not pardon the poll panel.

  • Four model polling stations set up in Assam’s Goalpara

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Four model Polling Stations have been set up – one per constituency – each with a unique theme generating a lot of enthusiasm amongst our voters in Assam’s Goalpara.

    For 36 Dudhnoi LAC, Makhipara Govt JB School set up a polling station (PS) based on the concept of Unity and Diversity as Dudhnoi is a place of multiple cultures/linguistics/religions and ethnicities. The station includes Bamboo Arch Gate and Display area with cultural decorations, ethnic fabric and handicrafts and Mannequins wearing tribal attire placed at the selfie zone.

    For 37 Goalpara East LAC, Baladmari Chah Bagan Model Polling Station is based on the concept of ‘award red carpet’. PS has several components such as children play zone, seating lounge, selfie zone, muppets etc.

    Selfie zone is made in resemblance with red carpet zone seen in red carpet events giving the people a celebratory experience. Mini seating area themed on ‘inclusivity’ and transgender rights is made with rainbow color fabric.

    At Ambari Tiniali Bazaar High School located at 38 Goalpara West LAC polling booth theme is the widely celebrated Assamese festival of Bihu, arch gate adorned with several assamese traditional items, seating lounge/gazebo/pagoda with decorative chairs, designed with several props, standees and box pillars giving the polling booth a festive outlook.

    Theme for Haldibari ME Madrasa located at 39 Jaleswar LAC is Environment, Pollution, Water Pollution etc.  The polling booth has been equipped with display area of recycled products like plastic bottles, waste paper etc.

    Voters will also be handed out one tree sapling per voter as a memento from the administration’s side. The arch gate is adorned with props like dhari mat, jakoi and other traditional assamese tools. It also has an art installation made with recycles bottles, plastics wrappers, etc.

    In these PS To make it fun for young children coming to the location with their parents, Model booths have a designated play area relevant to the theme and seating areas with decorated chairs for the public along with access to bottled mineral water.

  • 5 poll officials suspended after 181 votes cast in Assam booth that has 90 voters 

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Five polling personnel were suspended in Assam after it emerged that 181 votes were cast in a booth that had 90 eligible voters.The incident was reported from the 107(A) Khothlir Lower Primary School polling booth in the Haflong Assembly segment. The Dima Hasao District Election Officer ordered a re-poll in the booth.It was an auxiliary polling station of the main voting centre at Mouldam Lower Primary School. The incident came to the fore on April 4, two days after polling was held in the booth.Some villagers had reportedly come with their own list of voters and refused to accept the official voters’ list. The constituency had recorded 74% voting as against the statewide average of 80.96%.Assam’s Chief Electoral Officer, Nitin Khade said during scrutiny, it was found that the presiding officer and the polling officers had allowed 181 persons to cast their votes.“The presiding and the first polling officers in their statements have admitted that they allowed the voters registered against the main polling station to cast their votes in the auxiliary polling station,” Khade said.He said taking note of the lapse, the District Election Officer suspended the sector officer, the presiding officer, and three other polling officers.“The auxiliary polling station…has been created for the first time to facilitate the voters in the remote area as the polling percentage in the last Parliamentary election was only 34,” Khade added.

  • Assam polls: Modi attacks junior Azmal for objectionable comments, says Mahajot has accepted defeat

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) over an objectionable comment made by its MLA Abdur Rahim had made.

    Addressing a rally at Tamulpur, Modi said, “The election is underway. I heard some people made some announcements yesterday (Friday). They have accepted that they lost the polls. They have also given a description of the next government — how it will look like and what attire it will wear”.

    “It is shocking that they have come up with a blueprint to grab Assam five years from now. There cannot be a bigger insult to Assam and its culture than this,” he said without taking any name..However, his statement, ostensibly, had reference to the objectionable remarks of Rahim, who is the son of AIUDF chief and MP, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal.

    ALSO READ | Government working sincerely to implement Assam Accord, most problems resolved: PM Narendra Modi

    Modi claimed the people of Assam had realised the “Mahajhoot” (grand lies) of the “Mahajot” (grand alliance). He said the people would not tolerate those who insult Assam’s pride and identity and give them a befitting reply in the polls.

    Supporters during PM Narendra Modi’s rally inAssam’s Baksa district on Saturday | ptiThe Congress has formed a ten-party grand alliance of the Opposition to oust the ruling BJP from power. All throughout its poll campaign, the BJP is targeting the grand old party and the AIUDF. The BJP is telling voters that if the alliance grabs power, Ajmal will become the chief minister of Assam. He is seen by many as a sympathizer of illegal immigrants.

    Meanwhile, midway through his speech, Modi had halted briefly to direct the doctors accompanying him to attend to a person in the crowd who fainted.

    “Pausing in the middle of his speech at Tamulpur in Assam, PM @narendramodi promptly directed the team of PMO doctors to give immediate assistance to an old-aged person, Shri Hari Charan Das, in the rally who was apparently dehydrated. He has been attended to and is stable now,” the BJP tweeted.

    The third and final phase Assam polls will be held on April 6.

  • AIUDF to support Congress CM in Assam: Badruddin Ajmal

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday said the party will support a leader from the Congress as the next chief minister of Assam if the ‘Grand Alliance’ is voted to power.

    The ruling BJP has been aggressively campaigning that the ongoing Assembly polls in Assam is a “clash of civilisation” and to prevent Ajmal from becoming the chief minister of the state.

    “AIUDF is committed to supporting a Congress CM in the state after 2 May (sic).

    Congress Mahajot govt, an alliance of Ten parties, will work equally for all regions & communities of Assam without fear or favour,” Ajmal tweeted.

    The only agenda of the ‘Mahajot’ or ‘Grand Alliance’ government is to implement the “Five Guarantees” of the Congress which was annnounced during campaigning.

    The Congress has formed the ‘Grand Alliance’ with AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), RJD, Adivasi National Party (ANP) and Jimochayan (Deori) Peoples Party (JPP) to fight the assembly election in Assam against the BJP-led NDA.

    The ‘Grand Alliance’ has “guaranteed” that if it is voted to power, then a law will be introduced to nullify the CAA, provide five lakh government jobs, 200 units of free electricity to all households, Rs 2000 per month for housewives and raise minimum wages of tea garden workers to Rs 365.

  • Magisterial probe ordered into Assam EVM row

    By PTI
    KARIMGANJ/HAILAKANDI: A magisterial probe has been ordered to determine why a polling team in Assam carried an EVM in a vehicle owned by the wife of a BJP candidate, officials said on Saturday.

    Karimganj District Deputy Superintendent Anbamuthan MP issued an order on Friday night to probe the incident, which has snowballed into a huge controversy amid the ongoing Assam assembly elections, the last phase of which is slated for Tuesday.

    Additional District Magistrate Rajeshan Terang has been asked to conduct the enquiry and submit a detailed report within three days.

    “…This incident posed a threat to security of the polled EVMs and has an adverse effect on the law and order situation,” the order said.

    The probe will also find out the circumstances leading to the poll party travelling in a private vehicle, and ascertain whether there was any lapse or conspiracy on the part of the authorities.

    Violence had broken out on the outskirts of Karimganj town on Thursday night after a crowd spotted a BJP candidate’s vehicle being used to transport a polled EVM to the strong room, prompting the police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control.

    The poll team from Ratabari constituency claimed that its official vehicle broke down midway, forcing them to ask for a lift from a passing vehicle, which turned out to be that of the wife of BJP’s Patharkandi candidate.

    Sitting MLA Krishnendu Paul is the BJP candidate from the Patharkandi seat, while Ratabari is currently represented by his party MLA Bijoy Malakar, who is contesting the election as well.

    Ratabari and Patharkandi constituencies went to the polls in the second phase on Thursday.

    The Election Commission has suspended four election officials and ordered repolling at the booth.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also sought an inquiry by the commission.

    Meanwhile, police arrested at least six persons for allegedly live streaming the violence that had erupted after the incident, and inciting the mob to attack the private vehicle in which the poll party was travelling with three units of the EVM from 149 Indira MV School in Ratabari.

    “We are identifying the people who were seen attacking the vehicle in the videos…more arrests are likely,” a senior police official said.

    Opposition Congress and the AIUDF have slammed the authorities for the incident, and alleged that the EVM was being “stolen”.

    Demanding an explanation and immediate action, Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora said the party will consider boycotting the election if “this open loot and rigging of EVMs” does not stop immediately.