The stage is set for the by-election to the Majuli assembly constituency in Assam on Monday which will decide the fate of three candidates in the fray.
An estimated electorate of 1,33,227 is eligible to exercise their franchise in the by-election.
The candidates in the fray are the ruling BJP candidate Bhuban Gam, the opposition’s joint nominee Chittaranjan Basumatary of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Bhaity Richong of the SUCI(C).
High pitched campaigning was witnessed with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visiting the world’s largest river island twice to seek votes for the party candidate while opposition leaders including Assam Congress President Bhupen Bora, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi and AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi canvassing for Basumatary.
The Congress had decided not to contest but to leave the seat for AJP in a bid to unite the anti-BJP forces.
The former Chief Minister was elected to the state legislative assembly from Majuli constituency for two consecutive terms in 2016 and 2021.
Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Assam has completed all arrangements for conducting polls in a free, fair, safe and peaceful manner and election observers have been appointed to keep a strict vigil on law and order, expenditure and to strictly enforce COVID protocols in the polling stations, an official said.
All possible precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that all polling stations follow COVID-19 safety protocols strictly for the safety of the voters and the election officials. Each polling station will be sanitized and facilities of thermal scanning, hand sanitizers, face masks are also made available at the polling stations.