Assam Elections Phase 1 Highlights: If Congress-AIUDF comes to power, it will endanger people's life, says Sarbananda Sonowal

The first set of Assam's voters exercised their franchise today as the state began its first of three phases of assembly elections. 47 constituencies are going to poll with some 264 candidates, including 23 women, in the fray amid strict security and Covid-19 protocols. An electorate of 81,09,815, including 40,77,210 male, 40,32,481 female, 124 of the third gender and nine overseas voters, will step out to vote in 11,537 polling stations, which include 1,917 Auxiliary polling stations, created to maintain Covid-19 protocols and spread over 6,433 locations. Fates of big names like CM Sarbananda Sonowal, anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi, Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia, among others will be sealed today. Stay tuned for more updates.

BJP seats will increase in Assam, assures Rajnath Singh

There is no major challenge (for BJP in the polls) in Assam. Our govt has a splendid track record on fronts of development & good governance. I believe that the seats of BJP will increase & NDA will succeed in this election in Assam: Defence Minister & BJP leader Rajnath Singh

If Congress-AIUDF comes to power, its govt will endanger Indians living in Assam & strengthen illegal immigrants: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

72.10% of 81.09 lakh electors exercise their franchise till 5 pm in 47 assembly seats where polling is underway for first phase.

With 66.02% turnout till 5pm, polling in the state ends

Covid safety protocols maintained in polling stations; Assam voters happy

The fear of Covid looms large andAssam's voters stepped out of their homes with caution to exercise their franchise and they seemed satisfied with the facilities to check the spread of the virus in polling stations in the first of the three-phased election in 47 of the 126 assembly constituencies.

Besides, voters were happy with arrangements to take care of children while their mothers voted, and ferry people with disabilities to polling stations.

In Pics | How West Bengal, Assam queued up to exercise their franchise

Voting for the first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam began earlier today with much fervour. A total of 30 seats are being contested in the first phase of the West Bengal Assemblypolls. In Assam, voters will elect representatives for 47 new seats, with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also in contention.

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Cong-Left-ISF alliance fighting for political relevance, hopes to be kingmaker

With the poll narrative for the assembly poll in West Bengal sharply polarized between the ruling TMC and opposition BJP, the Congress-Left-ISF alliance is fighting to prove the political relevance of the parties in it and is pinning its hopes to be the kingmaker in case of a fractured mandate.

The Congress and CPI-M-led Left Front, which has been pushed to the margins of politics in Bengal after ruling it for 34 long years, has waived their ideological and political differences and came together for the second time after the 2016 assembly polls.

62.36% and 70.17% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India

47.10% and 55.27% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India

People in Assam will reject BJP's hate politics, says Kamal Nath

Without taking the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister alleged that decisions for Assam are taken by two persons sitting in Delhi.

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Health worker checks the body temperature of a voter, as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, before casting her ballot during Phase 1 of Assam's legislative election at a polling station in Koliabor, some 186 km from Guwahati on March

45.20% turnout reported till 1 pm; polling underway

Ripun Bora, president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee after casting his vote. Bora is a candidate in North Assam's Gohpur constituency.

Asom Gana Parishad President Atul Bora casts his vote at Bokakhat

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal cast his vote in Dibrugarh Assembly constituency. Sonowal, however, is contesting from Majuli constituency.

People are happily voting for the BJP and our allies. Our candidates will win and we will form the government again, Sonowal said after casting his vote.

People are happy with our development works in the past five years and people want our government again, the incumbent CM added.

Precautions being taken at Lakhimpur in North Assam in view of Covid-19

Latest poll percentage of 7 Assembly Constituencies of Dibrugarh, Assam:

1. Moran - 14 %

2. Dibrugarh - 13 %

3. Lahowal 13 %

4. Duliajan - 14 %

5. Tingkhong - 13 %

6. Naharkatiya - 13 %

7. Chabua - 14 %

AIR

Divyang voters being assisted at a polling booth at Jonai | AIR

Polling going smoothly in the first phase so far, says Assam Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade

People queue up to vote in Jorhat district in eastern Assam amid tight Covid-19 protocol | Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Assam

Distribution of saplings to voters at a Model Polling station in Jorhat | AIR

First voter has been welcomed with a gamusa and a sapling in model polling station in Batadraba | AIR

Assam polls: Anti-CAA rumblings to be tested in Phase 1

Will the anti-CAA sentiments turn into votes against the ruling BJP and its allies in Assam? Or the polarisation narratives and the developmental works being highlighted by BJP would retain the voters' faith in the saffron party?

These questions are doing the rounds as Assam is set for the first phase of polling in 47 of 126 seats in eastern and North Assam districts, the Assamese heartland which witnessed strong protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

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Assam Polls Phase 1: Polling begins; CM Sonowal, top opposition leaders, many ministers in fray

Voting began at 7 am on Saturday for 47 seats in the first phase of the assembly elections in Assam to decide the fate of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and a host of ministers and opposition leaders, officials said.

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Assam Assembly polls Phase 1: All you need to know

The first set of Assam's voters will exercise their franchise today as the state gears up for the first of three phases of assembly elections in the state.

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Voters waiting in a queue at a polling station in JP Nagar, Dibrugarh, as polling gets underway for the first phase of Assembly elections

I particularly call upon my young friends to vote, says PM Modi