Guwahati: Most ministers, besides Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in the outgoing BJP-led Assam government were leading in their respective constituencies, according to early trends released by the Election Commission of India on Monday.
The latest trends suggest that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is taking a huge lead in the Jalukbari constituency. Sarma has secured 31,056 votes, while Bidisha Neog of the Congress has received 13,842 votes.
Atul Bora, president of the Asom Gana Parishad and the state’s Agriculture Minister, was ahead in Bokakhat by over 3,000 votes against his nearest rival from Raijor Dal. After the first round of counting, Bora had secured 4,682 votes, while Hari Prasad Saikia had 1,440 votes.
Another minister in the lead was Chandra Mohan Patowary, contesting from Tihu. After two of the 19 rounds of counting, he was ahead by 5,468 votes, polling 10,991 votes against Ratul Patowary of the Indian National Congress, who had 5,523 votes. Patowary, the sitting MLA from Dharmapur, is contesting from Tihu following recent delimitation changes.
Keshab Mahanta, another AGP minister, was also comfortably ahead, leading by more than 8,800 votes against Independent candidate Jiten Gour.
In the Bhowanipur-Sorbhog seat, Ranjeet Kumar Dass was leading by 658 votes after the fourth round. He had secured 19,444 votes, while Manoranjan Talukdar of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had 18,786 votes. Both candidates are contesting from restructured constituencies following delimitation.
Finance Minister Ajanta Neog was ahead in Golaghat by more than 11,000 votes, with Congress candidate Bitupan Saikia trailing.
In Jagiroad, Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika maintained a strong lead of nearly 16,000 votes over Congress candidate Bubul Das after five rounds of counting.
His colleague Ashok Singhal was also leading in Dhekiajuli by 3,230 votes against Congress nominee Batash Orang after the first round.
Minister Ranoj Pegu was ahead in Dhemaji by more than 15,000 votes over Congress candidate Sailen Sonowal after six rounds.
Jayanta Malla Baruah, Minister of Public Health Engineering, is leading in Nalbari by a margin of 18,967 votes. While Baruah has secured 38,413 votes so far, his nearest rival, Ashok Sarma of the Congress, has received 17,176 votes.
However, Cabinet Minister Nandita Gorlosa, who joined the Congress after being denied a BJP ticket from Haflong, was trailing by around 5,000 votes against BJP candidate Rupali Langthasa.