Over 78 percent voter turnout recorded in final phase of BTC elections

Over 78 percent voter turnout was recorded on Thursday in Bodo Territorial Council‘s (BTC) second and final phase of polling, which witnessed police firing in the air to control a

Over 78 percent voter turnout was recorded on Thursday in Bodo Territorial Council‘s (BTC) second and final phase of polling, which witnessed police firing in the air to control a clash between BPF and UPPL supporters in Chirang district of Assam.

Till the closing of polls at 4.30 pm, 78.80 percent of 10,23,404 voters exercised their franchise, deciding the fate of 111 candidates for 19 constituencies spread across Kokrajhar and Chirang districts.

An official of the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) said long queues were still there at several of the booths of the total 1,407 polling stations and the voting percentage is likely to go up further.

“Except for one polling booth, it was peaceful voting. In the said polling booth, the presiding officer was replaced by the returning officer,” he added.

At the booth of Dattapur LP School in Chirang, supporters of BPF and UPPL clashed when the presiding officer was helping an aged person to cast his vote.

Police had to fire a round in the air to control the situation and voting was interrupted for a brief period, a senior official said after visiting the booth.

The polling exercise, which was conducted through the paper ballot, was briefly halted at Pathargaon LP School in Chirang district after the voting stamp was allegedly stolen by one of the voters.

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