Guwahati, April 9 (NationPress) A significant turnout was observed among voters throughout Assam on Thursday as they participated in the Assembly elections, conveying their aspirations for the next government to focus on development and progress in the region.

The electoral battle in Assam is mainly between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The ruling BJP aims to achieve a third consecutive term, while the Congress seeks to regain power after being out of office since 2016.

Polling commenced at 7 a.m. in a single phase and will last until 5 p.m., with voters forming long lines outside polling stations from early morning. The current term of the 126-member Assam Assembly is set to conclude on May 20.

The voting for this crucial election began as planned, with adequate security measures and administrative setups to facilitate a smooth polling process.

In this election, the BJP aims to re-establish its government alongside its NDA partners. The campaign is spearheaded by the current Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who took over from Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021.

Conversely, the Congress is striving for a political resurgence under the leadership of State Congress President Gaurav Gogoi, leading a six-party coalition that includes the Raijor Dal, headed by Akhil Gogoi, and the Assam Jatiya Parishad, led by Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

The electorate consists of over 2.5 crore voters, with nearly equal representation of male and female voters at around 1.25 crore each, along with 318 transgender voters.

The voter list also features approximately 6.42 lakh first-time voters in the 18–19 age bracket, showcasing a notable presence of youth in the electoral landscape.

First-time voters showed great enthusiasm for engaging in this democratic process.

One voter in Kamrup shared with IANS, "This is my first time voting, and I feel proud to be part of this community and support its development."

Another first-time voter from Dibrugarh expressed, "Participating in this Assembly election feels fulfilling, and I’m glad to strengthen our democracy."

A voter in Jalukbari voiced support for the current government, stating, "We seek progress in the state. CM Sarma has accomplished much for us, and we hope Assam continues to thrive."

Similarly, a voter in Biswanath remarked, "I am thrilled to vote today. We aspire for a secure and developed state, and I have cast my vote toward achieving this goal."

Polling is currently taking place in all 126 Assembly constituencies across the state, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4, which will determine the future government of Assam.