Summary of Assam Election 2014
Phase I polling
The first round of polling in Assam was conducted on 7 April 2014 in five parliamentary constituencies. The polling percentage witnessed was 78.74% at 8,588 polling booths.
Total turnout: 78.74%
| Time | Voting Percentage |
|---|
| 11:00 AM | 36.44% |
| 01:00 PM | 49.64% |
| 03:00 PM | 63.37% |
| 05:00 PM | 74.19% |
Phase II polling
The second of three-phased election in Assam took place on 12 April sealing the fate of 37 candidates. The polling percentage of male in this phase was 78.08% while the female turnout recorded was 74.65%.
Total Turnout: 76.45%
| Time | Percentage |
|---|
| 10:00 AM | 22% |
| 12:00 PM | 37% |
| 01:00 PM | 52% |
| 03:00 PM | 54% |
Phase III polling
Re-polling in Guwahati
After reports of misconduct during polling at certain polling booths, re-election was ordered at polling station number 35 in the Jalukbari assembly of the Guwahati parliamenatry constituency. The re-election was conducted on 28 April 2014 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The voter turnout recorded was over 90%.
Reportedly, one of the VDP volunteers had repeatedly pressed the button on the EVM while casting his vote, and also tried to influence other voters to press the same button. Six persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the incident. Among the six arrested, four were election officials.
Reference:
- Chief Electoral Officer, Assam
- Election Commission of India
- Press Information Bureau
WBMA010514
The 14 Lok Sabha constituencies which belong to Assam were critical in 2014 election, particularly for the Indian National Congress, as it had held its sway in this state for decades. The BJP was the only other national political party which made its presence felt in the state.
The regional political outfits having a growing prominence in Assam are the Bodoland People's Front (BDF), the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF). Interestingly, the AGP, which had been an ally of the BJP for long, contested the polls alone. The AGP broke alliance with the BJP and contested the elections as a united political front termed the North-East Political Front.
Important Congress leaders who were granted tickets to the constituencies of Assam were Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya, Ismail Hussain, Bhupen Bora, Manas Bora, Biren Singh Engti and Ranee Narah, among others. In the list of candidates released by the AGP, there were Phani Bhushan Chowdhury who is the President of AGP, Birendra Prasad Baishya, former Union Minister, and Hari Prasad Dihingia, who is a former ULFA militant. The BJP named, among others, leaders such as Mrinal Kumar Saikia, Debomoy Sanyal, Hiramoni Deka Sonowal and Rameshwar Teli, to contest the upcoming polls from this north-eastern state.
As per the various opinion polls held in Assam, out of the 14 parliamentary constituencies, the Congress was expected to bag 7-9 seats, while the BJP was expected to secure 4-5 seats. The AUDF and the AGP were expected to win one seat each. It was being estimated that the BJP would turn out to be the dark horse in Assam in particular, as an important part of the party's poll strategy had been to target the north-eastern states, making these states a major vote-bank of the BJP. This was amply evident in the Modi's rally held in Assam, where he promised to resolve the major issues of unemployment and the Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam.
Reference:
- Election Commission of India
WBSS140414
