Voting for the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly election began on Thursday morning across the state, marking a major democratic exercise involving more than 2.5 crore voters. Polling started at 7 AM in all 126 constituencies and continued peacefully in most parts, though a few incidents and technical issues were reported during the early hours.This election is being held for the first time after the recent delimitation, with revised constituency boundaries in place. A total of 722 candidates are contesting, including 622 men and 60 women. There is also a visible presence of young candidates this time, with several contestants in the 30–45 age group and some from the Gen Z category.According to official data, Assam has over 2.5 crore voters. Among them are more than 1.25 crore men and around the same number of women, along with a small number of third-gender voters. Polling is being conducted at over 31,000 polling stations, including several managed entirely by women.
As voting progressed, early trends showed a steady turnout across districts. By around 11 AM, Majuli and Goalpara recorded the highest participation, both crossing the 43 percent mark. Morigaon, South Salmara Mankachar and Darrang also reported strong turnout figures. On the other hand, urban areas like Kamrup Metropolitan and hilly districts such as Karbi Anglong recorded comparatively lower participation.In Kamrup Metro, the overall turnout remained moderate. Constituencies like Dimoria and Jalukbari showed better participation, while New Guwahati reported the lowest numbers during the initial hours.Several political leaders and candidates were seen casting their votes across the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Kamakhya Temple in the morning before heading to vote. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also exercised his franchise in Dibrugarh. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi cast his vote along with his mother, who also appealed to the people of the state to bless her son.
In Kokrajhar, BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary and candidate Siewli Mohilary cast their votes and expressed confidence in their party’s performance. Similar confidence was seen among leaders from other parties as well, with many predicting strong results in their favour.At the same time, some minor disruptions were reported. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned at a few polling stations in Patharkandi and Bokakhat, leading to temporary delays and long queues. In Samaguri, a clash broke out between two groups at a polling station, but the situation was quickly brought under control and voting continued.In a tragic incident, a polling officer died while on duty in Naduar constituency after falling ill. The incident cast a shadow over the otherwise smooth polling process.Security arrangements have been tightened across the state, with a large number of police and central forces deployed at sensitive locations. Election officials have also made special arrangements for elderly and differently-abled voters to ensure smooth participation.