Wheelchairs for divyang voters in Assam polling stations

GUWAHATI:

As many as 1,38,290 persons with disabilities (PwDs) will exercise their franchise in the three-phase Assam Assembly elections.

According to sources, the state election department has taken measures for the voters, and wheelchairs would be available in every polling station. E-rickshaws will also be provided.

Around 33,530 polling stations have been arranged across the three phases.

Sources stated that 2,89,474 voters are over 80 years of age.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nitin Khade said that 946 candidates, including 74 women, will be in the fray for the three-phase elections to the 126 Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies across 50 districts.

Of the candidates, 264, including 23 women, will be in the fray for the first phase polls on March 27, with the oldest being Independent candidate Premadhar Bora (85).

Khade requested all voters to exercise their franchise without fear, as they have taken all requisite measures for a peaceful election.

“Adequate security measures would be taken in all the polling stations,” he said, adding that 11,537 polling stations have been arranged for the first phase poll.

We may note that 2,33,74,087 general electors will exercise their voting rights in the three-phase elections.

Of these, 1,18,23,286 are male, 1,15,50,403 are female, and 398 are transgender. Apart from general electors, there are also 63,074 service voters.

In the first phase, 81,09,815 general electors will cast their votes across 47 Legislative Assembly constituencies. Out of these, 40,77,210 are male, 40,32,481 female and 124 are transgender.

Regarding the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, the CEO informed that since February 26, 2021, over 1,014 MCC violation complaints were received, of which 700 “were found examined and disposed of.”

Besides this, various agencies seized cash, liquor, drugs, narcotics, precious metals, etc., worth Rs 87.96 crore.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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