Campaigning for Guwahati Municipal Corporation election ends

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The high-profile campaign for the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) election came to an end at 4:30 pm on Wednesday.

On the last day of campaigning, leaders, candidates and supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Independents braved the rain in the morning and carried out last-minute campaigning with enthusiasm. Various parties took out rallies in various modes - on foot, on bikes, on e-rickshaws and on auto rickshaws. Polling will commence at 7.30 am and end at 4:30 pm on Friday (22nd April).

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for the first time in GMC elections.

It may be mentioned that out of the 60 GMC wards, BJP candidates have won uncontested from three wards - Ward No. 5, Ward No. 6 and Ward No.22. Consequently, polling will take place for 57 wards.

There will be 197 contesting candidates. The BJP is fielding 53 candidates (including the three uncontested winners) while its ally AGP is fielding seven candidates, The Congress is fighting the election alone without any ally.

The AAP and AJP are contesting the GMC poll for the first time.

There will be a total of 757 polling stations across the GMC area to cover an electorate of 7,63,605 (sans the three wards with uncontested winners). Counting of votes will start on the morning of April 24 and final results are expected to be announced by evening on the same day.

The ruling BJP and AGP are taking the GMC poll quite seriously despite being in power at Dispur, as was evident from stalwarts such as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Cabinet Minister Atul Bora participating in several campaign rallies in favour of party candidates.

During campaigning, the Chief Minister promised to provide Rs 10 crore to each ward for road construction and maintenance, setting up of at least one hospital in each ward within four years, provision of 5,000 new water supply connections per month from July, along with induction of 1,000 beneficiaries from each of the 60 wards into the Orunodoi scheme. Further, he said, residents of Guwahati inducted into the Orunodoi scheme will receive an extra amount of Rs 250 per month for payment of electricity bills, which will mean that they will receive a total of Rs 1,250 per month.

On the other hand, the Congress has promised, among other things, to supply drinking water to every household within 100 days; initiate a separate, major water supply project to cover Dispur, Kahilipara, Hatigaon, Khanapara, Panjabari, Hengerabari and other areas in south Guwahati; set up 100 vending zones for small businesses within 30 days; functional streetlights on all roads and bye-lanes within 30 days; and make Guwahati flood-free and pollution-free.

AGP president Atul Bora, on behalf of his party, assured the voters that the State Government is making all efforts to convert Guwahati into one of the top five cities of the country.

Bora further said that the AGP has adopted the resolve of accepting all responsibility that falls on the party as a partner in the incumbent State Government. He said that the Government is determined to ensure resolve problems of farmers, including enhancing their productivity.

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