Assam Assembly Elections 2016: Polling for second phase begins, 61 seats contested in Lower Assam region

Prominent candidates featuring in this phase of elections are - former CM and AGP leader Prafulla Mahanta, state cabinet ministerRockybul Hasan, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Congress rebel Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Written by: Mohammed Uzair Shaikh

Published: April 11, 2016, 6:45 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/assam-assembly-elections-2016-polling-for-second-phase-begins-61-seats-contested-in-lower-assam-region-1097865/ Copy

Guwahati, April 11: Second phase of polling is underway in Assam. In this final round of elections, the fate of some of the prominent players of state politics hangs in balance. A total of 61 seats are contested in the region of Lower Assam. 12,699 polling stations have been marked by the Election Commission which will function from 7 AM to 6 PM. The electorate strength in this round of poll is 1,04,35,271, as per the amended National Register of Citizens published in January.

A total of 525 candidates have filed their nomination papers for this round of polls. Interestingly, only 48 among them are women. Out of the 61 seats, Congress is contesting on 57. Within the alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party-Asom Gana Parishad-Bodoland People’s Front, the BJP will contest in 35 constituencies, while the AGP has fielded candidates on 10 seats. Third ally BPF will fight from 9 assembly segments. (ALSO READ: Assamese are minority, Muslims are largest electoral group in this poll battle!)

Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) will emerge as the key player in this round of polls. The Muslims population of the state is largely settled in Lower Assam region, and therefore the AIUDF has strong prospects. The party has fielded 47 candidates in this round of polls.

The prominent candidates featuring in this phase of elections include – former Chief Minister and AGP leader Prafulla Mahanta, state cabinet minister of Tarun Gogoi government Rockybul Hasan, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Congress rebel Himanta Biswa Sarma. (ALSO READ: Assam Assembly Elections 2016: Ali-Coolie-Bengali, the political ‘mantra’ responsible for fading Assamese identity)

While Congress hopes that it’s Ali-Coolie-Bengali (Muslims-plantation workers-Bengali speaking Hindus) formula works in this round of elections, BJP aims to win over all non-Muslims votes. On the other hand, AIUDF hopes that the Muslim votes do not split with Congress. Muslims at 34 per cent of state’s population are the highest single electoral group. They are followed by Bengali speaking Hindus who amount to 15 percent of voters. The tea-plantation workers also carry an electoral strength of roughly 10 per cent.