What was the voter turnout in the final phase of Assam Panchayat polls?

Synopsis
On May 7, Assam witnessed a significant voter turnout of <b>56.71%</b> in the final phase of its panchayat elections. This turnout reflects the state's commitment to democratic participation, with early reports indicating high engagement across various districts. Chief Minister <b>Himanta Biswa Sarma</b> emphasized the importance of these elections for rural prosperity.
Key Takeaways
- 56.71% voter turnout in the final phase.
- Voting occurred from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma voted for rural prosperity.
- Final vote counting on May 11.
- Repolling on May 9 if necessary.
Guwahati, May 7 (NationPress) Approximately 56.71% of the 91.31 lakh eligible voters participated in the second and concluding phase of the panchayat elections in Assam on Wednesday, according to officials.
Voting occurred from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 13 districts. Voters present in the booths at closing time were permitted to cast their votes afterward.
A senior official indicated that while final voter turnout statistics are anticipated by late Wednesday night or the following day, 56.71% of eligible voters had already cast their votes by 3:30 p.m. The second phase of voting included the districts of Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Bajali, Nalbari, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, and Darrang.
Bongaigaon exhibited the highest turnout at 62.72%, while Kamrup recorded the lowest participation at 51.33%.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cast his vote at the Amingaon Bengali Higher Secondary School in his Jalukbari constituency within Kamrup district, expressing that he voted “for a prosperous future for rural Assam.”
Any necessary repolling for this second phase is set for May 9, with vote counting scheduled for both phases on May 11.
The total electorate in this phase was 91,31,127, comprising 46,30,924 men, 44,99,952 women, and 251 individuals from other categories. This phase included elections for 181 Zila Parishad (ZP) constituencies, 87 Anchalik Parishad (AP) seats, and 10,530 Gaon Panchayat (GP) wards. A total of 1,289 candidates -- including 21 ZP members, 151 AP members, and 1,117 GP ward members -- were elected unopposed. Overall, 29,608 candidates contested in the second phase.
During the first phase, 70.19% of voters participated across 14 districts, including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Majuli, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi. These panchayat elections mark the first held after the delimitation of constituencies in the state.
It is noteworthy that seven districts in Assam are governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, where separate elections for autonomous councils are conducted.