STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The second and last phase of the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) elections concluded in the 19 constituencies across Kokrajhar and Chirang districts on Thursday. Except for an incident of violence related to the polls in Chirang district, the democratic exercise was, by and large, peaceful.
Since morning, long queues of electorates were witnessed at each of the 1,407 polling stations.
Till the filing of this report at 9 pm, the turnout percentage was 78.80 – more than the 77 per cent of the first phase that had concluded on December 7.
Sources informed that during polling at the Dattapur polling station in Chirang district on Thursday, security personnel had to fire a single round to control a mob and the situation that arose after some political workers alleged that a polling official had helped a voter inside the polling room. As a result, polling was halted for some time there. The district administration has, however, denied the charges.
Talking to The Sentinel, Secretary of the Assam State Election Commission, Pranjit Gogoi said, "Both phases of the polling in BTC passed off peacefully. We haven't received reports for repolling so far. The counting of the ballot papers will start from 8 am on December 12."
Altogether 241 candidates contested in both the phases of elections to the 40 constituencies across the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) under the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council).
In the first phase, 130 candidates contested.
The second and last phase of the BTC polls sealed the political fate of 111 candidates. Of the total candidates, while 77 contested in the 12 constituencies in Kokrajhar district, 34 others were in the fray across the seven constituencies in Chirang district.
Meanwhile, BPF (Bodoland People's Front) president Hargrama Mohilary told the media, "Our victory is guaranteed. The BPF will get 15 of the 19 seats in Kokjrajhar and Chirang. Moreover, we will get 16 of the 21 seats of the first-phase polling at Udalguri and Baksa,."
Hagrama further claimed, "I contested from Kasugaon and Deborgaon. We'll win both the seats."
On the other hand, Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The BJP will come out victorious in the BTC polls", adding, "We'll accept the mandate of the people."
UPPL (United People's Party-Liberal) president Promod Boro said, "The masses of BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) witnessed the misrule of Hagrama Mohilary during the last 15 years. This time, the people have voted for a change.
The BTC was constituted in 2003. An 'Interim Council' nominated by the State government ruled the Council for the initial two years till 2005.
The present two-phase election is the fourth one with the earlier three polls here held in 2005, 2010, and 2015.
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