By-polls: Voting underway in five assembly constituencies of Assam

GUWAHATI, Nov 13: Voting is underway in five assembly constituencies of Assam with enthusiastic voters seen queuing at polling stations from early morning hours to exercise their franchise.

By-elections, necessitated after legislators of these five constituencies were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections, are being held in Dholai (SC) in Barak Valley, and at Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon and Sidli.

Voting began at 7am and picked up pace as the hours began to roll.

Polling has been peaceful in all five constituencies till the filing of this report.

In Samaguri, the BJP is looking to end former legislator Rakibul Hussain’s dynastic politics by defeating his son Tanzil who is the Congress candidate. The BJP has fielded Diplu Ranjan Sarmah from the seat.

In Behali, the main contest is between BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal and Jayanta Bora of the Congress.

Bongaigaon is witnessing a two-cornered contest between AGP’s Diptimoyee Choudhury, wife of 8-term MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury, and the Congress’ Brajenjit Singha, a retired IPS officer.

While in Dholai, the main contest is between BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Das and Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha of the Indian National Congress.

Sidli is witnessing a three-cornered contest between Nirmal Brahma of UPPL, Congress’ Sanjib Wari and Suddha Kumar Basumatary of BPF.