BTC Polls: Healthy turnout of 75% recorded in 1st phase of voting

TAMULPUR: The 1st ROUND of the polls in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) saw a healthy turn out of approximately 75% till 7 pm in the evening, officials said. Polling for 21 council constituencies in Baksa and Udalguri districts began at 7-30 am on Monday at 1,739 polling booths. A total of 13,59,020 voters will decide the fates of 130 candidates.

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Assam State Election Commissioner Alok Kumar disclosed that 75 percent voter turnout was recorded till 7 pm. Kumar further asserted that there was no report of any untoward situation happening during the polling and the first phase of polling went "peacefully."

The second phase of BTC elections in Kokrajhar and Chirang district will be held on December 10 and counting of votes will be held on December 12.

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The election in the BTC assumes special significance as the Assembly elections in Assam are to be held in 2021. Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has even gone so far as to term the BTC polls as a "semifinal" before the polls.

BJP, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) are contesting the elections solo. Meanwhile, the Congress and the AIUDF parties are contesting together, in what is being seen as a precursor to an alliance for the Assembly polls for 2021.

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