Guwahati, May 2: The first phase of the Panchayat elections in Assam recorded a moderate voter turnout of 56.41% on Friday, according to the State Election Commission (SEC). Voting took place across 14 districts, including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Majuli, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi.
As of 3:30 PM, Lakhimpur district recorded the highest voter turnout at 66.5%, followed by Dhemaji with 62.1% and Majuli with 61.67%.
On the other end, Charaideo reported the lowest turnout at 50.94%.
According to the SEC figure, 60.15% voter turnout was recorded in Sribhumi district, 60.10% in Hailakandi, 58.55% in Cachar, 57.72% in Sibsagar, 52.51% in Golaghat, 57% in Jorhat, 56.89% in Biswanath and 52.5% voters turnout has been recorded in Sonitpur district.
While polling was largely peaceful, isolated incidents of violence and disruptions were reported in a few areas. A senior SEC official noted that the final turnout figure will be confirmed once ballot submissions from interior polling stations are fully processed.
In Sonitpur, tension flared a day before polling when BJP worker Rathindra Dey was attacked by fellow party member Leela Newar in the Dhekiajuli area. Dey filed a police complaint, after which locals protested by burning tyres and demanding Newar’s arrest.
Cachar district’s Katigorah area witnessed booth violence at Polling Station 2 of Phulbari Tarinipur Gaon Panchayat. Miscreants allegedly tried to capture the booth, leading to a clash that left at least two people injured.
Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta confirmed that the incident involved rival candidate groups. DIG (Southern Range) KJ Saikia stated that police acted swiftly to restore order, and polling resumed without further disruptions.
In Sribhumi district, two violent incidents were reported. At Polling Station 60 in Patakauri LP School under Ramkrishnanagar, Congress candidate Kuber Yadav of Charagi Zilla Parishad was seriously injured during a clash allegedly involving Congress and BJP supporters.
Another incident occurred in Rajatilla GP area, under Rajatilla Umarpur Zilla Parishad, where a fight broke out between supporters of two independent ward member candidates. Five people were injured and shifted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital.
Security forces were promptly deployed at both locations, allowing voting to continue without further incident.
The second phase of polling, scheduled for May 7, will cover Dhubri, South Salmara Mankachar, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Bajali, Nalbari, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, and Darrang districts.
