Campaign for Phase 1 in North-East ends

Guwahati, Apr 15 : Coinciding with the celebration of Rongali Bihu, Assam’s spring festival, campaigning for the first phase of polling — scheduled for April 16 for 10 Lok Sabha seats in six north-eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram — came to an end on Tuesday.
The campaigning for the remaining 11 seats of Assam which will go to the polls in the second phase on April 23 also slowed down as candidates and political party workers took a break to welcome the new year.

In Assam, 27,40,728 voters will decide the fate of 37 candidates for the three constituencies — Silchar, Karimganj (SC) and Autonomus District (ST) that are going to the polls in the first phase. Prominent among those in the fray include Union Minister for Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Deb, Assam United Democratic Front president and perfume magnate Badruddin Ajmal, the former Union Minister Kabindra Purakaystaha (BJP) — all three vying for the Silchar seat — and the former Union Minister, Biren Singh Engti, who is seeking another term from the Autonomous District (ST) constituency.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in 3,056 polling stations of the three constituencies. Two choppers have been kept ready to tackle any eventuality in the two hill districts of North Cachar Hills District and Karbi Anglong in the wake of a spurt in extremist violence.

In Arunachal Pradesh, 7,32,505 electors will exercise their franchise in 2,057 polling stations to decide the fate of eight candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats — Arunachal West and Arunachal East.

A 30-member team of polling personnel was flown in advance on April 10 to Vijaynagar under Arunchal East constituency for conducting polling in three stations in the remote and inaccessible administrative circle along the India-Myanmar border, which has no road, no electricity and no phone and is reached by air.

Polling will also be held for the two Lok Sabha seats of Meghalaya — Shillong and Tura — in the first phase. Altogether 12,77,739 voters will decide the fate of 11 candidates. For the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland, there are three contestants. Altogether 13,21,878 voters will exercise their franchise in 1,790 stations while for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram, which too is going tZo the polls on April 16. A total of 62,93,84 electors will decide the fate of four contestants. Polling will also be held in the first phase for the Outer Manipur constituency, where 90,94,34 electors exercise their franchise.