Guwahati: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to retain power in Assam, The Bridge Chronicle’s poll of exit polls, an aggregate of exit polls, has predicted. This exit poll will give India an idea of the winners and losers in the four states and one Union Territory before the counting of votes on May 2.
According to the poll of exit polls, the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) is set to bag 72 of 126 seats. The Congress is likely to win 53 seats, states the poll of exit polls. The majority mark in Assam is 64. Here’s what the poll of exit polls:
The North-Eastern state voted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. According to the Election Commission, the polling turnouts were 79.93 per cent, 80.96 per cent and 82.33 per cent respectively. The ruling party has contested 92 seats in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad, which has challenged 26 seats.
In the opposition grand alliance, the Congress has contested 94 seats, whereas Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF has challenged on 14. Since the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a combative topic in Assam, there is an anti-incumbency wave against the BJP. According to those who oppose the CAA, the act violates the Assam Accord that was signed in 1980 to ensure the protection of local culture.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh had already showed confidence that the BJP will return to power in Assam for the second consecutive term, saying high voter turnout echoes pro-incumbency. "When the results are declared on May 2, Assam will send out a message loud and clear, which is going to echo around the country," said Singh. He stated that in each of the three phases of election, the voter turnout was reliably around 80 percent and this is a "pro-incumbency" vote.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was active in the rallies in Assam had promised that after formation of the BJP government once again in Assam will create two lakh jobs in the government sector and eight lakh jobs in private sector.
On the other side, the opposition Congress in Assam recently filed a complaint with the Election Commission, claiming "serious discrepancies" in respect of the safety of strong rooms, EVMs under nine Assembly constituencies in three districts of the state.
State Congress President Ripun Bora, in his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, said that "diverse serious discrepancies were found" in the strong rooms where the EVMs were placed after the elections in nine Assembly constituencies. Demanding an immediate probe into the allegations, the Congress leader demanded the intervention of the Election Commission to solve the "discrepancies in respect of the safety of strong rooms and EVMs".
KEY CONTENDERS IN ASSAM POLLS
· Sarbananda Sonowal
· Himanta Biswa Sarma
· Utpal Borah
· Ripun Bora
· Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah
· Hemanta Kalita
· Prodip Hazarika
· Angkuta Dutta
In the 2016 Assembly polls, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had clinched victory on 86 seats. This time, the saffron party is taking on the Congress-led grand alliance of eight other parties including Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF. From NDA, the BJP is contesting on 92 seats, Asom Gana Parishad 26 while United People's Party Liberal is contesting for 8 seats. The Congress is contesting on 94 seats, AIUDF 14, Bodoland People's Front 12, and CPIM 2. CPI-ML, Anchalik Gana Morcha, and RJD is contesting on one seat each.
