Assam records 25 p.c. polling in first four hours...

An estimated 25 per cent of the electorate cast its franchise in the first four hours of polling in 62 Assam Assembly constituencies on Monday amidst tight security.

The highest percentage was reported from constituencies in Karimganj, Jorhat and Haflong districts ranging from between 35 to 40 per cent. Tinsukia recorded the 11 per cent polling, according to the election office.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accompanied by wife Dolly and son Gaurav, Union Minister B.K. Handique and Lok Sabha MP Dip Gogoi cast their votes in Jorhat constituency.

Reports of EVMs malfunctioning were reported from six polling stations in Lakhimpur, Naoboicha, Bokajan and Diphu Assembly constituencies.

Voters boycotted polling in ten polling stations under the Haflong police station.

The Indigenous Peoples Forum, an umbrella organisation of Hmar, Kuki and Zeme Naga tribes, boycotted the polls demanding bifurcation of North Cachar Hills district into two autonomous hills districts.

For the first time in 15 years, insurgents of the ethnic KLNLF participated in the democratic process by casting their vote in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.

Karbi Longri National Liberation Front chairman P. Dili told reporters at a polling booth here that 41 of his cadres in two designated camps exercised their franchise for the first time in 15 years in the Assam Assembly elections.

Among other prominent persons contesting the elections were senior Ministers Pradyut Bordoloi, Ajanta Neog, Prithivi Majhi, Gautam Roy and Bharat Chandra Narah.

BJP State president Ranjit Dutta, former AGP president Brindaban Goswami and CPI National Council member Promode Gogoi were also in the fray. There were a total of 485 candidates in 62 of the 126 Assembly constituencies going to polls in the first phase.

The second phase of voting will take place on April 11.

Polling was being held amidst tight security following threats issued by banned ULFA faction led by Paresh Barua.

Nearly 35,000 central paramilitary personnel have been deployed for the polls.