Assam Lok Sabha Election
GUWAHATI, April 23: Barring a few stray incidents, polling was peaceful in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Asom that registered an average 62 per cent turnout, said Asom Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Hemanta Narzary in a statement today. The CEO said the voters did not cast a single vote in as many as 12 polling stations in the State. He said repolls would be held in nine polling stations.
According to the CEO, 65.3 per cent of voters turned out in Kokrajhar, 64.64 per cent in Dhubri, 62.7 per cent in Barpeta, 56.2 per cent in Guwahati, 60 per cent in Mangaldai, 62.8 per cent in Tezpur, 63.2 per cent in Nagaon, 60.4 per cent in Koliabor, 59.7 per cent in Jorhat, 62.8 per cent in Dibrugarh and 61 per cent Lakhimpur constituencies.
The 12 polling stations where voters refrained from casting votes, according the CEO, are No. 23 South Udalguri LP School, No. 1 Sasagaon MV School, No. 5 Futakibari LP School, No. 8 and 9 Hazirapara LP School, No. 17 Bhalukmari LP School in Bilasipara; No. 44 Sapara in Tezpur; No. 16 Hinjugaon in Mergherita; No. 83 Keseruguri LP School and No. 167 Kherkota High School in Dhakuakhana.
The CEO further said as many as 13 electronic voting machines (EVMs) had to be replaced due to technical snags. THE SENTINEL
PM casts vote in Guwahati, confident of Congress win
GUWAHATI, April 23: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who cast his vote at polling station No. 156 at Dispur Government HS School here today, said a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would be formed at the Centre once again.
“The Congress in Asom will win with a thumping majority and there will be a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre,” Singh told journalists soon after casting his vote along with his wife Gursharan Kaur.
“I am really excited to be back home and cast my vote. It is the duty of all Indians to exercise their franchise,” the Prime Minister said. Asked if the Congress would consider a post-poll tie-up with Left parties, Singh refrained from making any comment. Hundreds of people lined up the streets leading to the polling station in Dispur Government Higher Secondary School where Singh and his wife cast their votes. He arrived at the school at 11.35 am. His serial No. in the voters list was 726 and that of his wife was 727. When the Prime Minister arrived at the poll station, there were six or seven voters in the queue, and the Prime Minister and his wife stood in the queue and cast their votes. He was hardly there for ten minutes.
Heavy security arrangements had been made at the school where even its Principal Bilibala Devi was not allowed to enter when the Prime Minister was there. The Principal of the school, who is a voter in Nagaon, opted not to go to Nagaon to cast her vote only to inform the Prime Minister of the problems of the school like lack of staff, permanent library, toilet facilities in the school campus outside the school building etc. The school was established in 1974. The Prime Minister did not go to his rented home at Sorumotoria.
Earlier, Dr Singh was received at Khanapara by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other APCC office-bearers. He left for New Delhi after casting his vote. THE SENTINEL
Rigging by Congress alleged
GUWAHATI, April 23: The second phase of the 15th Lok Sabha elections, which were held in several Lok Sabha constituencies of the State, saw the two main Opposition parties — the AGP and the BJP — make allegations of poll-rigging against the ruling Congress party.
Talking to mediapersons, BJP founder leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purakayastha said, “After a 25 years, anti-Congress winds are being felt in the State. The Opposition is hopeful of a favourable verdict by the electorate. As a result, the party had to resort to poll-booth rigging and other unlawful activities.”
Alleging incidents of poll-booth rigging, the BJP has demanded repolling in several poll booths of the State. BJP spokesperson Pradip Thakuria said, “Cases of rigging and other anomalies have been registered at a few polling stations in Paneri LAC under Mangoldoi Lok Sabha constituency. The polling stations where discrepancies have been registered are polling stations No. 49, 54, 73 and 78. We have already submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission to this effect.”
The BJP further alleged that the Congress candidate for the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat Captain Robin Bordoloi had forcibly taken a few papers from polling stations No. 151 and 152 at Piyali Phukan Road at Chandmari in Guwahati after threatening the poll officials who were on duty there. “We have made a complaint about the entire incident to the Election Commission,” Thakuria said.
The BJP spokesperson alleged that Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had entered into a secret meeting with traders of Fancy Bazaar last night, thereby trying to influence people even after the end of the campaigning period. “Yesterday, Himanta Biswa Sarma had met traders of the Fancy Bazaar area at around 8:30 pm in the evening. We knew that such a meeting would take place and had also intimidated the Election Commission. We have no information about the action taken by the Election Commission.”
Party sources predict victory for the AGP-BJP combine in as many as eight Lok Sabha constituencies of the State. AGP and BJP sources feel that the BJP would win in Guwahati, Nagaon, Mangoldoi, Silchar and Jorhat Lok Sabha constituencies, while the AGP would win in Barpeta, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh constituencies.”
Similar views were echoed by AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary who felt that the public’s verdict would shatter Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s vanity. He said, “The Congress has resorted to rigging in several Lok Sabha constituencies of the State. The Congress has already accepted defeat due to which they have now resorted to booth capturing and other unscrupulous activities.” THE SENTINEL
Violence marks polls in State
GUWAHATI, April 23: Stray incidents marked the second and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Asom today. While AUDF’s Goalpara district committee president Ganesh Hazarika was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne miscreants at Duapara in Goalpara today, the body of Dhigaldubi AGP office-bearer in Raha, Jadav Das, was found today. Das was missing since last night.
According to reports, while seven BPPF workers sustained injuries in a clash with BPF supporters at Panbari in Gossaingaon, two BPF workers —Rupaban Basumatary and Jyotish Mushahary — were held for rigging at Sanfanguri. There was a clash between ABSU and BPF workers at Tipkai under Gauripur police station. A security personnel of a central poll observer was attacked at Mukalmua in Nalbari and three persons were held in this connection.
In a clash between AGP-BJP and AUDF workers, a BJP worker was seriously injured at Shyamtilla under Kalaigaon police station in Mangaldai, while two AUDF workers were held on the charge of distributing cash among the voters at Saplanghata in Goalpara.
The security personnel of Barpeta AUDF candidate Abdul Samad was held on the charge of campaigning for Samad.
Elsewhere in the State, a presiding officer was allegedly beaten up by Congress workers at Japara in Nalbari and five BPF workers were beaten up by the public at Kalipukhuri in Kokrajhar. THE SENTINEL
AGP leader arrested
GUWAHATI, April 23: AGP leader Pushpa Deka was arrested today on charges on violation of the standing rules of the Election Commission, even as the AGP demanded his immediate release from police custody. Pushpa Deka had fought the 2006 Assembly elections from Jalukbari constituency. There are allegations that several Congress workers started casting random votes at the Dolibari Polling Station in Jalukbari LAC towards the concluding hours of today’s polls, resulting in a tense situation at the polling station. At that moment, Pushpa Deka entered the polling station and picked up a fight with the polling officers. Deka was subsequently arrested by the police and was yet to be freed till the filing of this report.
The AGP has strongly condemned Pushpa Deka’s arrest. Demanding repolls in the particular polling booth and Pushpa Deka’s immediate release, AGP spokesperson Manoj Saikia said, “Pushpa Deka was unfortunately arrested while trying to stop Congress activists from booth capturing. He should be released immediately.” THE SENTINEL
GUWAHATI, April 23: Barring a few stray incidents, polling was peaceful in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Asom that registered an average 62 per cent turnout, said Asom Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Hemanta Narzary in a statement today. The CEO said the voters did not cast a single vote in as many as 12 polling stations in the State. He said repolls would be held in nine polling stations.
According to the CEO, 65.3 per cent of voters turned out in Kokrajhar, 64.64 per cent in Dhubri, 62.7 per cent in Barpeta, 56.2 per cent in Guwahati, 60 per cent in Mangaldai, 62.8 per cent in Tezpur, 63.2 per cent in Nagaon, 60.4 per cent in Koliabor, 59.7 per cent in Jorhat, 62.8 per cent in Dibrugarh and 61 per cent Lakhimpur constituencies.
The 12 polling stations where voters refrained from casting votes, according the CEO, are No. 23 South Udalguri LP School, No. 1 Sasagaon MV School, No. 5 Futakibari LP School, No. 8 and 9 Hazirapara LP School, No. 17 Bhalukmari LP School in Bilasipara; No. 44 Sapara in Tezpur; No. 16 Hinjugaon in Mergherita; No. 83 Keseruguri LP School and No. 167 Kherkota High School in Dhakuakhana.
The CEO further said as many as 13 electronic voting machines (EVMs) had to be replaced due to technical snags. THE SENTINEL
PM casts vote in Guwahati, confident of Congress win
GUWAHATI, April 23: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who cast his vote at polling station No. 156 at Dispur Government HS School here today, said a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would be formed at the Centre once again.
“The Congress in Asom will win with a thumping majority and there will be a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre,” Singh told journalists soon after casting his vote along with his wife Gursharan Kaur.
“I am really excited to be back home and cast my vote. It is the duty of all Indians to exercise their franchise,” the Prime Minister said. Asked if the Congress would consider a post-poll tie-up with Left parties, Singh refrained from making any comment. Hundreds of people lined up the streets leading to the polling station in Dispur Government Higher Secondary School where Singh and his wife cast their votes. He arrived at the school at 11.35 am. His serial No. in the voters list was 726 and that of his wife was 727. When the Prime Minister arrived at the poll station, there were six or seven voters in the queue, and the Prime Minister and his wife stood in the queue and cast their votes. He was hardly there for ten minutes.
Heavy security arrangements had been made at the school where even its Principal Bilibala Devi was not allowed to enter when the Prime Minister was there. The Principal of the school, who is a voter in Nagaon, opted not to go to Nagaon to cast her vote only to inform the Prime Minister of the problems of the school like lack of staff, permanent library, toilet facilities in the school campus outside the school building etc. The school was established in 1974. The Prime Minister did not go to his rented home at Sorumotoria.
Earlier, Dr Singh was received at Khanapara by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other APCC office-bearers. He left for New Delhi after casting his vote. THE SENTINEL
Rigging by Congress alleged
GUWAHATI, April 23: The second phase of the 15th Lok Sabha elections, which were held in several Lok Sabha constituencies of the State, saw the two main Opposition parties — the AGP and the BJP — make allegations of poll-rigging against the ruling Congress party.
Talking to mediapersons, BJP founder leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purakayastha said, “After a 25 years, anti-Congress winds are being felt in the State. The Opposition is hopeful of a favourable verdict by the electorate. As a result, the party had to resort to poll-booth rigging and other unlawful activities.”
Alleging incidents of poll-booth rigging, the BJP has demanded repolling in several poll booths of the State. BJP spokesperson Pradip Thakuria said, “Cases of rigging and other anomalies have been registered at a few polling stations in Paneri LAC under Mangoldoi Lok Sabha constituency. The polling stations where discrepancies have been registered are polling stations No. 49, 54, 73 and 78. We have already submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission to this effect.”
The BJP further alleged that the Congress candidate for the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat Captain Robin Bordoloi had forcibly taken a few papers from polling stations No. 151 and 152 at Piyali Phukan Road at Chandmari in Guwahati after threatening the poll officials who were on duty there. “We have made a complaint about the entire incident to the Election Commission,” Thakuria said.
The BJP spokesperson alleged that Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had entered into a secret meeting with traders of Fancy Bazaar last night, thereby trying to influence people even after the end of the campaigning period. “Yesterday, Himanta Biswa Sarma had met traders of the Fancy Bazaar area at around 8:30 pm in the evening. We knew that such a meeting would take place and had also intimidated the Election Commission. We have no information about the action taken by the Election Commission.”
Party sources predict victory for the AGP-BJP combine in as many as eight Lok Sabha constituencies of the State. AGP and BJP sources feel that the BJP would win in Guwahati, Nagaon, Mangoldoi, Silchar and Jorhat Lok Sabha constituencies, while the AGP would win in Barpeta, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh constituencies.”
Similar views were echoed by AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary who felt that the public’s verdict would shatter Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s vanity. He said, “The Congress has resorted to rigging in several Lok Sabha constituencies of the State. The Congress has already accepted defeat due to which they have now resorted to booth capturing and other unscrupulous activities.” THE SENTINEL
Violence marks polls in State
GUWAHATI, April 23: Stray incidents marked the second and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Asom today. While AUDF’s Goalpara district committee president Ganesh Hazarika was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne miscreants at Duapara in Goalpara today, the body of Dhigaldubi AGP office-bearer in Raha, Jadav Das, was found today. Das was missing since last night.
According to reports, while seven BPPF workers sustained injuries in a clash with BPF supporters at Panbari in Gossaingaon, two BPF workers —Rupaban Basumatary and Jyotish Mushahary — were held for rigging at Sanfanguri. There was a clash between ABSU and BPF workers at Tipkai under Gauripur police station. A security personnel of a central poll observer was attacked at Mukalmua in Nalbari and three persons were held in this connection.
In a clash between AGP-BJP and AUDF workers, a BJP worker was seriously injured at Shyamtilla under Kalaigaon police station in Mangaldai, while two AUDF workers were held on the charge of distributing cash among the voters at Saplanghata in Goalpara.
The security personnel of Barpeta AUDF candidate Abdul Samad was held on the charge of campaigning for Samad.
Elsewhere in the State, a presiding officer was allegedly beaten up by Congress workers at Japara in Nalbari and five BPF workers were beaten up by the public at Kalipukhuri in Kokrajhar. THE SENTINEL
AGP leader arrested
GUWAHATI, April 23: AGP leader Pushpa Deka was arrested today on charges on violation of the standing rules of the Election Commission, even as the AGP demanded his immediate release from police custody. Pushpa Deka had fought the 2006 Assembly elections from Jalukbari constituency. There are allegations that several Congress workers started casting random votes at the Dolibari Polling Station in Jalukbari LAC towards the concluding hours of today’s polls, resulting in a tense situation at the polling station. At that moment, Pushpa Deka entered the polling station and picked up a fight with the polling officers. Deka was subsequently arrested by the police and was yet to be freed till the filing of this report.
The AGP has strongly condemned Pushpa Deka’s arrest. Demanding repolls in the particular polling booth and Pushpa Deka’s immediate release, AGP spokesperson Manoj Saikia said, “Pushpa Deka was unfortunately arrested while trying to stop Congress activists from booth capturing. He should be released immediately.” THE SENTINEL
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