Phase 3 of polling for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began early on Tuesday. A large number of voters were seen in queues from even before the voting began. A large number of voting stations in the state of Assam however saw very limited number of voters at the very start of the day mainly because of the weather.
Several parts of the Northeast India, including parts of Assam has been receiving rains in the past few days. The same had caused minor hiccups for the voters in the early hours of the day.
As the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls have commenced across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote at a polling station in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat on May 7.
Soon after the polling process commenced at 7 am today, PM Modi came out to vote and arrived at the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ahmedabad.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, was also seen alongside PM Modi at the polling booth.
Meanwhile, PM Modi, while speaking to the press after exercising his franchise, urged the electorate to show up in large numbers to take part in the democratic process.
Just an hour after voting for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced on Tuesday at 7 am, EVM malfunctions were reported in different polling booths across Assam.
Incidences of tampering the EVM was reported at the No 134 Dholagaon Polling Booth in Bongaigaon; West Suradi Primary School in Nalbari; No. 195 polling booth in Sualkuchi; and No 136 polling booth in Dhubri.
The last two phases of the lok sabha polls also witnessed similar incidents of this sort in the northeastern part of the country.
Mira Borthakur, the Congress candidate contesting for the crucial Guwahati Lok Sabha Seat, has cast her vote at the Narbam L.P. School voting center, which saw many voters gathered early this morning to exercise their franchise despite inclement weather.
On the other hand, Garjan Muchahary, the Congress candidate from the Kokrajhar (ST) seat, also cast his vote early this morning at the No. 511 Katrigacha Primary School voting center.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family also voted at a polling booth in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
Notably, the BJP has fielded Amit Shah from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, the constituency which he currently represents in the Parliament.
He was seen with his wife Sonal Shah, his son Jay Shah, and daughter-in-law at the polling booth.
Several key political leaders are in the list of candidates in the 3rd Phase of polling underway today. Amit Shah has appeared from the Gandhinagar constituency of Gujarat. Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya is also contesting from the Porbandar constituency.
Sharad Pawar’s daughter is contesting against his nephew’s wife in Baramati of Maharastra. In Madha Pradesh, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia are also on the cards. Bardaruddin Ajmal of AIUDF faces Assam Congress leader Rakibul Hussain in Dhubri of Assam.
Four Lok Sabha Constituencies of Assam are witnessing voting since 7 AM today. As per the data revealed by the concearned authorities, the overall voter turnout at 9 AM among the four constituencies namely Barpeta, Dhubri, Guwahati and Kokrajhar was mentioned to be 10.12% .
The data revealed that 9.26% voters of Barpeta, 10.75% of Dhubri, 10.38% of Guwahati and 9.77% elegible voters of Kokrajhar had already cast their votes by 9 AM.
Rains in the early hours at many locations across the state has been a key reason for the comparatively low voters turnout in the early hours.
A clash took place between members of two groups in Dhubri. The incident took place at a polling station, leading to the deployment of additional security personnel.
The incident took place at the No 158 Kathalbari polling booth of Mankachar in Dhubri. The cause of the altercation was said to be the way how the queues were formed by the voters waiting for their turn.
The security personnel were able to stop the clash from increasing any further and ensure that voting was carried out peacefully.
The official data revealed that 27.34% of elegible voters from the four contituencies witnessing voting today, had voted by 11 AM.
Out of the four constituencies, 27.19% of voters of Barpeta, 27.77% of Dhubri, 26.25% of Guwahati and 28.28% elegible voters of Kokrajhar had already cast their votes by 11 AM today.
The number of voters casting their votes gradually increased as the weather slowly cleared up. Rains have also stopped in multiple locations.
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A large number of voters under the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency assembly arrived at their respective polling stations using boats. These voters used this risky mode of communication in order to exercise their right to vote.
The polling officials also had to brave their way through risky tarain and over rivers to reach their respective posts.
Indian National Congress's Rakibul Hussain and AIUDF's Mohammad Badaruddin Ajmal are the key candidated for the Dhubri Lok Sabha Seat of Assam.
Approximately 45.88% of elegible voters from four constituencies of the state of Assam had cast their votes till 1 PM. The voting numbers gradually increased as the weather cleared in the afternoon.
Barpeta Lok Sabha Contituency saw the turnout of 46.83% while the Kokrajhar constituency saw 46.43% turnout by 1 PM. At the same time, Dhubri saw 47.73% turnout while Guwahati recieved 42.13% voter turnout. The percentage has seen a gradual increase as the voting continues since 7 AM today.
Setting an example for all voters across the country, a 104 years old voter arrived at the designated polling booth to cast her vote. The name of this lady is Haripriya Barua, and she decided to exercise her rights despite her old age.
Haripriya Barua is a resident of Abhayapuri, which falls under the Barpeta Lok Sabha Constistituency of Assam. Her polling centre was at the 262 No. Notun Deohati Lower Primary School.
It must be noted that that the Election Commission had made arrangements for home-based voting options for all senior citizens of the country.
The 4 Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituencies of Assam which has seen voting in the 3rd Phase of poling for the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024 have seen a total of 63.08% voter turnout till 3 PM.
Till 3 PM, the highest number has been seen in Dhubri constituency where 65.51% voters cast their votes. Guwahati Lok Sabha Contituency has seen the lowest number among them with 57.46% voter turnout. Barpeta has seen 65.20% voter turnout while Kokrajhar has seen 63.64% voter turnout.
Voting goes on in all polling stations till 5 PM today.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma exercised his democratic franchise along with his family in Amingaon falling under the Barpeta Parliamentary constituency on May 7 during the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls.
After casting his vote, the Assam CM and BJP leader exuded confidence in the victory of his party and its allies in the General Elections, expressing optimism about the positive outcome for the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) bloc.
CM Sarma went on to say that the electorate will vote for progress, adding that the eastern and the north-eastern part of the country will play a historic role in this election.
The 4 Lok Sabha Constituencies of Assam which has seen voting in the 3rd Phase of polling for the ongoing General Elections 2024 have seen a total of 74.86% voter turnout till 5 PM.
The highest number has been seen in Dhubri constituency where 79.70 per cent voters cast their votes. Guwahati Parliamentary Contituency has seen the lowest number among them with 67.68 per cent voter turnout.
Barpeta has seen 76.20 per cent voter turnout while Kokrajhar has seen 74.24 per cent voter turnout.