Stage set for first phase polling tomorrow

The first phrase Panchayat election is all set to held tomorrow in 16 districts of Assam. More than 1 lakh security personnel have been deployed for the smooth running of the first phase polls. The counting of votes will take place on December 12.

In the first phase, 16 districts will go for polling on December 5. The districts are -Tinsukia, Dibrugrah,Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli,Golaghat, Nagaon, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Kamrup (M) and Kamrup.

Of 23,505 polling stations, 11,597 are comparatively safe, 8,243 sensitive and 3,665 are very sensitive, state election commissioner HN Bora said.Apart from security personnel, 1,56,255 civil servants are also engaged in the election process, Bora said.

"We have instructed all superintendents of police (SPs) to deploy adequate forces for smooth conduct of the election," Assam Police director general Kuladhar Saikia said.

There are 2,200 Gaon Panchayats in the state. A total of 1,56,41,456 voters, including 8,12,38,35 male and 7,51,76,21 female will cast their votes in the two phases of the elections.

Meanwhile, Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal said the district administration is all set for the voting in 256 polling stations of the district on Wednesday.

The district administration has already declared dry days from December 3 to 5 and on December 12 for the panchayat elections.The state government has also declared public holiday on the day of voting.

A total of 686 candidates are in the fray in the district. Strong Room to be set up at Sonaram High School playground, Mittal said.

Altogether 734 candidates were declared elected unopposed, including 442 candidates for the first phase and 292 for the second phase in Assam Panchayat Polls, 2018  – according to the reports of Assam State Election Commission.

The polling will start from 7 am to 5 pm.