Voter Turnout Dips To 64%, Voters Boycott Polling In Assam Lok Sabha Election 2024

In the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, which concluded recently, the provisional voter turnout stood at 64.2%. Despite a few incidents of scuffles and complaints to the Election Commission.

Why did voters boycott polling in Assam?

Voters in Assam boycotted polling during the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 due to development issues. Specifically, voters from two polling stations—Durganar Bagan lower primary school and Chittaranjan lane—refrained from participating in the voting process. These incidents highlight local grievances and concerns that led to their decision to boycott the polls

What specific development issues were raised by the voters?

The specific development issues that led voters in Assam to boycott polling during the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 have not been explicitly mentioned in the available news sources. However, it’s common for such boycotts to be driven by local grievances related to infrastructure, basic amenities, employment opportunities, and other socio-economic concerns. Without further details, we can only speculate on the precise reasons behind their decision to abstain from voting

In the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Assam, several political parties are vying for seats. Here are the major ones:

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The BJP secured 7 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam during the 2014 elections. In 2019, they contested in 10 seats and won 9¹.
2. Indian National Congress (INC): The Congress party won 3 seats in the 2014 elections and contested in 10 seats during the 2019 elections¹.
3. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF): AIUDF also won 3 seats in the 2014 elections¹.
4. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP): A regional party that aims to address local issues.
5. Raijor Dal (RD): Another regional party with a focus on Assam’s interests.
6. Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM): Advocates for regional development.
7. United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL): A party that has formed an alliance with the BJP for the 2024 elections

The voting process was described as “peaceful” by the poll panel Here are some key points from this phase:

• Tripura recorded the highest turnout with 79.59% of eligible voters participating
• • n Assam’s Silchar constituency, voters from two polling stations—Durganar Bagan lower primary school and Chittaranjan lane—boycotted polling due to development issues.
  • Cricket icons Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, and Javagal Srinath were seen voting in different polling stations in Bengaluru. However, nearly half of the voters in Bangalore Central, Bangalore North, and Bangalore South did not cast their votes.
  • In Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency, the voter turnout decreased to 53.30% from 60.47% in the 2019 elections.
  • In Bihar, polling time was extended in several stations due to hot weather conditions.
  • Notably, voters from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker constituencies in Chhattisgarh cast their votes in polling booths set up within their own villages for the first time in a Lok Sabha election Rajasthan recorded a tentative 61.60% voter turnout as 25 Lok Sabha seats went to polls in the second phase.
  • • A remarkable moment occurred when 108-year-old Bhuri Bai cast her vote in the Kota-Bundi constituency. She was brought to the polling booth in a wheelchair by her family members.