9 seats in 2016 Assam Assembly polls reported more NOTA votes than victory margins

The report said out of 1.69 cr votes polled in Assam Assembly polls in 2016, 1.89 lakh (1.12%) were polled for NOTA

At least nine constituencies in the 2016 Assembly election reported more NOTA (None of the Above) votes than the victory margins.

This was revealed in an analysis of voting patterns carried out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The organisation released the findings on Tuesday, weeks before Assam is set to go for Assembly elections.

The NOTA option was offered by the Election Commission of India in 2013 and it was introduced in Assam for the first time in 2016.

The report said out of 1,69,19,364 votes polled in Assam Assembly polls in 2016, 1,89,085 (1.12%) were polled for NOTA.

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Praneswar Basumatary of Congress was defeated by Padma Hazarika of BJP in Sootea in North Assam by 1,818 votes while 1,941 voters pressed the NOTA button.

In Karimganj North in South Assam, Mission Ranjan Das of BJP lost to Kamalakshya Purkayastha of Congress by a margin of 468 votes but it reported 674 voters choosing none of the candidates. In Borkhola, Kishor Nath of BJP defeated Independent candidate Misbahul Islam by 1,621 votes. However, a total of 1,579 voters exercised their NOTA power.

Binod Goala of AGP lost to Roselina Tirkey in Sarupathar constituency by 2,927 votes, which was 285 votes less than the NOTA votes.

In Sibasagar, Congress veteran Pranab Kumar Gogoi defeated Surabhi Rajkonwar of BJP by 542 votes. The constituency witnessed 893 NOTA votes.

Independent candidate, Sujan Das lost to Thaneswar Basumatary of Bodoland People's Front, an ally of BJP in 2016 in Chapaguri constituency in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts by 1,481 votes, while 2,058 voters pressed the NOTA button.

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Kushal Dowari of BJP defeated Sushanta Buragohain of Congress in Thowra by 1,226 votes, against 1,876 NOTA votes polled in the constituency.

Former minister in Tarun Gogoi's government, Chandan Kumar Sarkar was defeated in Abhayapuri South by Ananta Kumar Malo by 191 votes. The constituency recorded 1,113 NOTA votes.

In Doom Dooma in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district, Dilip Moran of BJP lost to Durga Bhumij of Congress by 782 votes. A total of 3,317 voters exercised their NOTA power in the constituency.

Assembly elections in Assam will be held in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6.