A ‘Facebook’ post by BJP candidate for Silchar Lok Sabha constituency, ‘Chowkider’ Dr Rajdeep Roy, on the dying moments of voting on April 18 said it all. “Respected voters – Just 30 minutes left. Please cast your vote. We need around 80 percent casting,” said BJP nominee Roy in his post.
However, according to election commission, 73.89% voters exercised their franchise for Silchar Lok Sabha seat.
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Silchar and Sonai assembly segments recorded 73.60% turnout, while Dholai recorded 72.60%, Udharbond 74.40%, Lakhipur 73.90%, Borkhola 75.00% and Katigorah 74.50%.
The average voter turnout is at least 6% less than expected by Roy.
Senior BJP leaders of Barak and sitting MLAs of the party had a closed door meeting on Friday in the district headquarters of the party in Silchar’s Itkhola road.
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Although neither Roy nor other leaders refrained from making any comments about the poll prospects, they are apparently not confidant that they would be able to snatch the seat from the Congress.
“I am extremely tired and need some rest,” said a reluctant Roy when Northeast Now caught up him when he came out from the office after the meeting.
He was , however, looked quite upbeat on Thursday morning as around 7 AM, he left for Radhamadhav and Samananda ‘ashram’, adjacent to his residence at Bilpar road, to seek blessings from the almighty.
At 8 am, he along with his family members exercised their franchise at Radhamadhav Ballika Vidyalaya located close to his residence.
“I won’t like to campaign today, but with a lovely weather in sight, hope people would come out and vote in large numbers. I am expecting the poll percentage to cross more than 75% this time round, or even can touch 80% mark,” a visibly confidant Roy had told this correspondent.
All India Mahila Congress president and incumbent MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev looked very enthusiastic as well, who along with her mother and former MLA Bithika Dev and sister Bharati Dubey cast vote at Nityamoyi Primary School.
“I have the love and support of the people. I won’t say I am confident but optimistic,” Sushmita told Northeast Now.
Even though the saffron party left no stone unturned to bag the Silchar seat, political observers say chances of Roy is very thin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it may be mentioned, visited the constituency and campaigned for Roy twice. Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also held road shows in the constituency to woo the voters.
On the other hand, perfume baron Baddruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF is likely to retain the Karimganj seat.
The Karimganj seat, where the total number of electorates is 13, 38005 voters, had recorded a total of 73.15 turnout.
With new entrant Swarup Das of the Congress party is missing from the scene, a direct contest between the BJP’s candidate and Deputy Speaker of Assam, Kripanath Mallah, and sitting MP Radheshyam Biswas of was evident.
Ratabari Assembly constituency from where Kripanath Mallah represents, had a turnout of 79.45%, while Patharkandi recorded 80.61%, Karimganj North and Karimganj South 75.03% and 79.07% respectively, Badarpur 80.48%, Hailakandi 61.64%, Katlicherra 61.49% and Algapur recorded 66.22% turnout.
While the five assembly seats of Karimganj district had huge turnouts with Badarpur and Patharkandi crossing 80% mark, the three assembly seats of Hailakandi (Hailakandi, Katlicherra and Algapur) district, could not even cross the 70% mark , if compounded together.
As all the three assembly seats of Hailakandi district are with the AIUDF.