Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 9: Voting commenced at 7 am on Thursday across Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, with authorities putting in place elaborate security arrangements, webcasting and special voter-friendly facilities to ensure smooth conduct of polls. Voting will continue till 6 pm.
Alongside, by-elections are being held in five Assembly constituencies — Ponda in Goa, Bagalkot and Davanagere South in Karnataka, Koridang in Nagaland and Dharmanagar in Tripura — following the demise of sitting legislators. More than three crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise, with results slated to be announced on May 4.
In Assam, polling is underway for 126 Assembly seats, with the contest largely centred between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led alliance. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a third consecutive term for the BJP, while the Congress, under Gaurav Gogoi’s leadership in the state, is attempting a comeback.
A total of 722 candidates are in the fray, with over 2.5 crore voters casting ballots across more than 31,000 polling stations. The campaign has been dominated by issues such as identity politics, revision of electoral rolls, illegal infiltration and governance.
Key constituencies include Jalukbari, where Sarma is contesting, and Jorhat, where Gaurav Gogoi is making his Assembly debut. The presence of parties like AIUDF, Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishad has made several constituencies multi-cornered.
Kerala is witnessing its customary bipolar contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). A total of 883 candidates are contesting for 140 seats, with 2.71 crore voters eligible to vote.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is seeking a third term and is contesting from Dharmadam, while Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan is aiming to retain Paravur.
Key attention is on Nemom, where BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar is contesting. Senior CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja is in the fray from Peravoor, while Chandy Oommen is contesting from Puthuppally.
Polling is being conducted across over 30,000 booths with heavy deployment of officials and security personnel. Special arrangements such as drinking water, fans and assistance for senior citizens have been made in view of the summer heat.
In Puducherry, around 9.5 lakh voters are deciding the fate of 294 candidates across 30 Assembly seats. The NDA, led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy, is seeking to retain power, banking on its governance record.
Rangasamy is contesting from Thattanchavady and Mangalam constituencies. The Congress-DMK-led INDIA bloc is attempting to regain power, highlighting issues related to governance and Centre-Union Territory relations.
A notable development is the entry of actor Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which is trying to establish itself as a third political force.
Authorities have identified over 200 vulnerable polling stations and deployed drones for strict monitoring. Special polling booths managed by women and facilities for elderly and differently-abled voters have also been arranged.