The second phase of Panchayat polls in Assam on Sunday recorded 72% turnout, marked by stray incidents of violence in different parts of the state.
The State Election Commission, however, indicated the final turnout figure might go up because all voters in queue at the time of closing of polls were permitted to exercise their franchise.
Elections were held in ten districts of the state in the second phase on Sunday and it ended at 3 pm. Voting began at 7 am under tight security as people in large numbers lined up at polling stations to cast their ballots.
State Election Commissioner Harendra Nath Bora said here that re-poll will be required at a few booths in Cachar and Karimganj districts and one booth in Nalbari district. Re-polls will be held on Tuesday.
Bora said that barring a few starry incidents in Barak valley’s Cachar and Karimganj districts, polling was by and large peaceful.
Most of the incidents were related to snatching of ballots but were promptly contained by the security and polling personnel deployed at the respective areas.
Counting of votes will be held on Wednesday. All the major political parties including the BJP, Congress, AGP and AIUDF are in the fray.
In the second phase altogether 35,056 candidates were in fray for 10,909 posts in 10 districts in lower Assam and Barak valley.
A total of 64.2 lakh voters for the second phase polls. Polling was held across 9,428 polling stations in Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, South Salmara Mankachar, Goalpara, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Hojai.
In the final phase election, 292 candidates have already been declared elected unopposed. Of these, highest 130 candidates are from the BJP, followed by Congress (87), Independents (52), AGP (13), AIUDF (7), BPF (2) and CPM (1).