Assam by-polls record over 60 per cent turnout

Guwahati: Over 60 per cent of the around 1.7 million voters cast their votes on Saturday in the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and Baithalangso legislative assembly constituency by-polls.

An official from the Chief Electoral Office said the polling remained peaceful without any untoward incident and 60.83 per cent voter turnout was recorded in both the constituencies.

“The polling started around 7 a.m. with a moderate note and till the end we have recorded 60.83 per cent turnout,” the official said.

While Naoboicha assembly segment under Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest (68.37 per cent) polling, Dhakuakhana assembly segment under the same Lok Sabha constituency recorded the lowest (56 per cent) polling on Saturday.

While there were 15,11,110 eligible voters under the nine assembly segments of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency, there were 1,80,203 eligible voters for the Baithalangso legislative assembly constituency.

Five candidates are in the fray for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and three for the Baithalangso legislative assembly constituency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had fielded party MLA Pradan Baruah for Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat while the Congress has put up senior party member Hema Hari Pegu as its candidate in the constituency.

Apart from this, the CPI fielded Amiya Kumar Handique followed by SUCI candidate Hem Kanta Miri and Independent candidate Dilip Moran.

In Baithalangso constituency, the BJP has fielded Mansing Rongpi and the Congress has put up Rupon Sing Ronghang.

Another candidate, Rajen Timung, has also filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Baithalangso constituency.

—IANS