Assam polls see record 85.96% turnout; women voters lead participation

NEW DELHI: A record 85.96 per cent of Assam’s 2.50 crore electorate cast their votes in the April 9 Assembly elections, the Election Commission said on Saturday, marking the highest turnout in the state’s history.The figure surpasses the previous high of 84.72 per cent recorded in 2016, when the BJP first came to power. Turnout had dipped to 82.04 per cent in 2021, when polling was held under COVID-19 protocols. The EC had initially estimated turnout at 85.64 per cent after polling ended on Thursday, revising it to 85.91 per cent on Friday before the final figure of 85.96 per cent was confirmed as data from all polling stations came in.Women voters outnumbered men in participation, recording a turnout of 86.54 per cent compared to 85.37 per cent among male voters, while around 35.85 per cent of third-gender voters exercised their franchise. Turnout among both men and women also improved compared to 2021 levels.Among constituencies, Birsing-Jarua, Jaleswar and Srijangram in Dhubri district recorded the highest turnout at 96.54 per cent, 96.28 per cent and 96.07 per cent, respectively. In contrast, the lowest turnout was recorded in New Guwahati at 72.37 per cent, followed by Dispur at 75.04 per cent and Guwahati Central at 76.07 per cent.As many as 24 constituencies, largely in minority-dominated areas, recorded turnout exceeding 90 per cent, more than three times the seven such seats in 2021, while seven constituencies saw polling above 95 per cent. All 11 assembly segments under the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat crossed 90 per cent turnout. In chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Jalukbari constituency, turnout stood at 82.04 per cent, slightly lower than 82.34 per cent in 2021. Meanwhile, Jorhat, where state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi is contesting, recorded a rise to 78.64 per cent from 74.67 per cent in the previous polls.(With inputs from PTI)