Voting Kicks Off for First Phase of Panchayat Elections Across 14 Districts

Voting for the first phase of Assam's panchayat elections is currently underway in 14 districts, with voters showing strong engagement by turning up in large numbers early on Friday morning. Long queues were observed outside polling stations, indicating a high level of participation in the democratic process at the grassroots level. The districts included in this phase are Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi.

The Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) has made extensive arrangements to ensure a peaceful and fair election. A total of over 1.20 lakh polling personnel have been deployed across the state, and security forces are stationed at each polling booth to maintain law and order. The elections will be held in two phases, with over 1.80 crore voters eligible to cast their votes across 25,007 polling stations. This includes approximately 90.71 lakh male voters, 89.65 lakh female voters, and 408 individuals from the "others" category. The second phase of voting will take place on May 7, covering the remaining 13 districts, with vote counting scheduled for May 11.

The first phase of voting comes at a time when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has already made a significant early lead. Prior to the start of voting, the NDA secured 37 Zila Parishad seats unopposed, with 35 seats won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two by its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Additionally, the NDA also claimed 288 Anchalik Panchayat seats unopposed, with 259 seats won by the BJP and 29 by AGP.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed strong confidence in the NDA’s prospects in the panchayat elections. He highlighted the impressive early gains by the NDA, which he described as a reflection of the people’s trust and affection for both the NDA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma took to social media platform X, emphasizing that the victory in unopposed seats is an “unprecedented mandate” in Assam's political history. He further stated, "This is a massive and unprecedented mandate in Assam's political history. It reflects the immense trust and overwhelming love that the people of Assam have for the NDA and for our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi."

Sarma also expressed his belief that the NDA's tally will grow further when the final election results are declared. He confidently asserted that the NDA is poised to sweep the panchayat elections in Assam.

These elections are being closely observed, as they are seen as a key indicator of rural political sentiment in Assam. The outcome of these elections will not only have a direct impact on local governance but also provide valuable insights into the political dynamics ahead of upcoming state and national elections. The high level of participation in these early voting phases indicates a vibrant democratic process, while the NDA’s early gains suggest strong support in Assam’s rural areas.