Guwahati: A significant turnout of over 6,000 voters from the 85+ age group across 23 election districts in Assam marked the first phase of the home-voting process, demonstrating a strong commitment to democratic participation among the elderly population.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Phukan announced that the first phase, conducted from April 4 to Tuesday, witnessed remarkable engagement, with 5,795 individuals casting their votes through postal ballots, reflecting the dedication of elderly citizens to exercise their franchise.
The second phase of the home-voting process is slated to commence from Friday, continuing until April 18, a day before the scheduled first phase of elections on April 19th, adding another layer of inclusivity to the electoral process.
The first phase of elections on April 19 will see the participation of voters from the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Kaziranga, encompassing nine assembly segments in Sonitpur and Lakhimpur, and ten each in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Kaziranga.
With a total of 85,94,255 eligible voters set to determine the fate of 35 candidates in the first phase, notable contenders include Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and sitting MP Gaurav Gogoi, among others.
In Dibrugarh constituency, Sonowal faces stiff competition from Assam Jatiya Parishad candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi, a prominent figure in the state’s anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement, while in Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi, representing the Congress, contends against BJP’s sitting MP Topon Kumar Gogoi, following the delimitation process.
Assam boasts over 2.43 crore voters, with the 85+ age group accounting for 1.18 lakh individuals, according to the Chief Electoral Officer, underlining the significant role of elderly voters in shaping the electoral landscape.
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