Hyderabad: The battle for Assam entered its final stage with the counting of votes commencing on Monday, determining whether the BJP-led NDA gets a third term or the Congress wrests power after weeks of wrangling marked by identity politics, welfare delivery and regional aspirations.
The EVMs, holding the electoral fates of 722 hopefuls from 126 assembly constituencies of the state, were opened at 40 counting centres across all 35 districts amid tight security arrangements.
Among the contestants, 59 are women. Counting in Nagaon district was started in three separate centres, while in Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat, it commenced at two centres each.
Twenty-five companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed to guard the counting centres and the strongrooms, housing the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The authorities deployed 800 more unarmed police personnel to move the EVMs from strongrooms to the counting centres. Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel had said that two additional CAPF companies were kept on static duty. On the other hand, 93 companies of state armed police have already been deployed in the districts, he said.
The support of 85 Assault Groups has also been sought on the counting day to deal with any untoward incident. Polling in the state was held on April 9, with 85.96 per cent of the over 2.50 crore electorate exercising their franchise. Among the 722 candidates, Congress has the highest 99, followed by BJP with 90, AIUDF with 30, NDA allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 26 and Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) with 11 nominees.
In the opposition alliance, Raijor Dal contested in 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad in 10, CPI(M) in three, and All Party Hill Leaders Conference in two.
The Aam Aadmi Party and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) each contested in 18 seats, the TMC in 22, the JMM in 16. Besides, there are 258 Independent candidates.
Among the high-profile candidates whose electoral fate will be decided on Monday are Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Congress’ state unit chief Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal Chief and MP Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi. Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro, are also in the fray.
The ruling BJP-led NDA’s main constituents are the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodo Peoples’ Front, while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, AJP, CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).
The ruling BJP’s strength in the outgoing assembly is 64, while its allies — the AGP has nine, the UPPL seven and the BPF, which rejoined the alliance, has three MLAs. In the opposition camp, the Congress has 26 members, the AIUDF has 15, the CPI (M) has one, and there is also an Independent legislator.
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