BTC polls, 'semifinal' before Assam Assembly election, underway. 17% voter turn out till 9 am

GUWAHATI: The 1st round of voting is officially underway in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), with the fate of 130 candidates belonging to all parties to be decided by the people at the polling booths. 13.64 voters will exercise their franchise during the first phase of the voting. The second phase will be held on December 10, while the counting will be held on December 12.

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.

ALSO READ: 1st Phase of BTC polls to be held tomorrow; Here’s all you need to know

Meanwhile, masks have been made mandatory inside the polling stations. Election officials said video recording has been made mandatory outside sensitive polling stations in Baksa and Udalguri.

Earlier, the polling time was from 8 AM to 4 PM, however, it has now been changed to 7.30 AM to 4.30 PM. Till 9 am, around 17% of the voters have cast their ballots.

ALSO READ: BPF leaders lost trust of public, will now lose election: Former Assam MP Biswajit Daimary

This has been decided by the apex state election commission sdo that social distancing norms can be maintained.

COVID-19 guidelines that were issued by the Election Commission of India to hold the Bihar Assembly elections will be adopted.

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