GUWAHATI : Nearly 40 per cent voter turnout has been registered till noon in the second and final phase of Assam Assembly election today. People were seen coming out in large numbers in the second phase after 80 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase polls, with a clear weather helping in pushing up the voter turnout further. Long queues were seen in most of the polling stations, including here, even before polling started at 0700 hours this morning. Report of election-related violence has been received from Sorbhog constituency in western Assam, but details were awaited. In Samaguri constituency in central part of the state, BJP candidate Jitu Goswami was reportedly injured in an attack by Congress workers. Over 1.04 lakh voters in 65 constituencies, spread across 15 revenue and 22 election districts in central and western parts of the state, will decide the fate of 525 candidates, including 48 women, in the second phase. The ruling Congress has fielded candidates in 57 seats, leaving 4 for its ally United People’s Front. The BJP has fielded candidates in 35 constituencies, AGP in 19, BPF in 10, CPI(M) in 9 and CPM in 5. There are 214 Independents in the second phase. Two time former CM Prafulla Mahanta of AGP (Barhampur), BJP leader Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma (Jalukbari), AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal (South Salmara), Ananta Deka of CPI(M) (Rangiya) and state Cabinet minister Rakibul Hussain (Samaguri) are among important candidates in the second phase. Polling is being conducted in 12,699 polling stations, of which 1671 have been marked as hypersensitive and 739 as critical. Altogether 525 companies of armed police force have been deployed for the second phase. As many as 1749 polling stations in seven constituencies would have VVPAT provision. Altogether 148 model polling stations have been set up for second phase and another 73 polling stations would have all-women personnel. Polling in 61 constituencies in first phase was held on April 4 last. Counting of votes will be undertaken on May 19 next. (AGENCIES)
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