Campaigning for the first phase of Panchayat elections in Assam, scheduled to be held on December 5, concluded on Monday evening.
Altogether 16 districts of the state will go for polls in the first phase, to elect all levels of members and councilors of 251 Zilla Parishad Councils (ZPCs).
The run-up to the first phase polling had witnessed high-pitch campaigning from all political parties.
The candidates along with their followers, participated in the election campaign till the last hour.
Several heavyweight leaders from the ruling as well as opposition parties including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, AGP president and state Cabinet minister Atul Bora, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kr Mahanta, AGP executive president and minister Keshab Mahanta, Congress president Ripun Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal addressed a number of election rallies at different places across of the state.
The ruling BJP and its ally AGP are contesting the Panchayat polls separately.
Besides, the main Opposition party Congress, AIUDF and other parties and Independent candidates are also in the fray.
The voting for the first phase will be held from 7 am to 3 pm on December 5 and re-poll, if any, will be on December 7.
Counting of votes will be conducted on December 12 after the second phase polling in remaining 10 districts on December 9 next.