First phase of Assam panchayat elections underway

The first phase of Assam panchayat elections is underway in 16 administrative districts.

Ruling allies--BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)-- are fighting local bodies polls in the state separately and the campaigning witnessed high-octane war of words between them.

AGP, which has publicly opposed the Citizenship Bill, 2016, used Citizenship Bill as one of their main campaign issue in the three-tier panchayat elections in the state.

The first phase of the elections will decide the fate of over 43,515 contestants for 15,899 various posts in rural bodies.

Polling will begin at 7 am and continue till 3 pm in the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugrah, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, Nagaon, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Kamrup Metro and Kamrup, which together comprise 27 election districts, Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) sources said.

Over one lakh security personnel have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the elections during the first phase, with 1,56,255 civil servants also engaged in the poll process, the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) sources said. 

The second phase of rural polls will be held on December 9 and counting of votes to be held on December 12.