GUWAHATI, Nov 13: Voting for the Assam by-elections to five assembly constituencies began on Wednesday, with 34 candidates contesting across Dholai (SC), Sidli (ST), Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri. These seats became vacant following the election of their representatives to the Lok Sabha.
Polling started at 7 AM and will continue until 5 PM, with more than nine lakh registered electors set to cast their votes at 1,078 polling stations. A total of 9,000 polling staff, 15 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and the Assam Police are ensuring security. Webcasting is being carried out at 592 polling stations, and several booths are being managed by all-women staff.
In Samaguri, Congress has fielded Tanzil Hussain, the son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, to contest against BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarma. Behali sees a contest between Jayanta Borah (Congress) and BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal, with opposition candidates also vying for a position. In Bongaigaon, the contest is between AGP’s Diptimayee Choudhury and Congress’ Brajenjit Singha. Dholai’s contest is expected to be tough between BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Das and Congress’ Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha, while Sidli sees a three-way fight between Congress, United People’s Party Liberal, and Bodoland People’s Front candidates.
The ruling BJP-led alliance currently holds 61 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, while the opposition Congress holds 26 seats.
